Japan Urged to Return Cultural Artifacts of Korea--Rodong Sinmun
Pyongyang, February 7 (KCNA) -- The Japanese imperialists vandalized and looted in a systematic and organized way the precious cultural artifacts of Korea during their colonial rule of nearly half century over it. Japan should honestly admit and apologize for this heinous crime and return all the looted artifacts to Korea.
Rodong Sinmun makes this demand in a bylined article Monday.
Recalling the recent foreign news report that Korean cultural assets in Japan total to hundreds of thousands of pieces, the article says:
According to testimonies of Japanese, there are 40 000 cultural artifacts of Korea, including ceramic wares, at the national museum in Tokyo.
Besides, many Korean cultural relics of variety are in the possession of museums, art galleries, universities, temples, art schools, institutions and individuals across Japan. Among them are ceramic ware, metal handicraft, image of Buddha, gem cutting craftwork, grass-work, mother-of-pearl work, drawing, book and printing type.
Tens of thousands of Koryo ceramics are reported to be on display in different parts of Japan.
The Japanese imperialists registered those looted artifacts as Japan′s "national treasure" and openly exhibited them at museums.
Over half century has passed since the defeat of the Japanese imperialists. But many of the cultural relics of Korea looted by them have not yet been opened to the public.
The Japanese imperialists′ rude vandalism and loot of cultural artifacts, the mental and material heritage, in Korea are a never-to-be-condoned crime as it was aimed to trample down the cultural tradition and soul of the Korean nation and obliterate the nation itself.
