Japanese reactionaries' wrong use of name of DPRK denounced
KCNA
Pyongyang, May 17 (KCNA) -- Japanese media are more persistently resorting to diatribes against the dignified Democratic People's Republic of Korea, defaming and wrongly using its name as "North Korea" and "Hokusen" in Japanese. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today carries an article contributed by dr. Mun Yong Ho.
He in his article cites concrete facts that the Japanese reactionaries have disregarded and wrongly used the name of the DPRK, its symbol as an independent state, and gone to the lengths of restoring the defamatory title of Korea which Japanese used when it was under their colonial domination.
This is an unpardonable act of despising the Korean nation and infringing upon the national sovereignty as it tramples down upon the dignity of Korea and its nation and ignores the existence and authority of the DPRK, the article says, and continues:
When looking back on history Japan has never properly called our country the DPRK. especially in modern times Japan called our country "Han," groundlessly meaning that Korea was subject to Japan from the ancient times.
When the feudal state of Ri dynasty externally proclaimed that the name of its state was "the Great State of Korea" and "the State of Korea," Japan deliberately called it "Daisen" or "Sen" in Japanese.
During their colonial rule over Korea the Japanese imperialists defamatorily called Korea "Hokusen", "Saisen", "Nansen", regarding it as its colony.
Even today Japanese high-ranking conservative figures of ministerial level are free to make vituperation against the DPRK at official functions, calling it "Hokusen" and "Senjin" in Japanese.
Japanese reactionaries are so shameless as to assert that it is no problem for them to call the DPRK according to their usual practice as Japan has no diplomatic relations with it.
As far as the issue of diplomatic relations and practice are concerned our people are entitled to say something to Japan.
The DPRK has no diplomatic relations with Japan. The Korean people have a deep-rooted practice as regards the name of Japan.
From long ago, the Korean people have called Japan "Wae" in Korean.
All the historical records of Korea prove that the official title of Japan was "Wae" and the name of Japan was not used generally. Even today there is little change in Koreans' understanding and practice of calling Japan "Wae".
The word "Japanese sword" that entered the recently printed Korean dictionary is the only word relevant to the word of Japan. But it contains more than 80 ordinary words relevant to "Wae".
If the name of other countries may be wrongly used according to usual practice as the Japanese reactionaries claim, the word "Japan" which the DPRK has used in its official language can immediately change into the word "Wae" without any argument.
The Japanese reactionaries' wrong use of the name of the DPRK should never be overlooked.
If Japan is willing to redress its crimes committed against the Korean people, it should properly do so from a correct stand and immediately stop wrongly using the name of the DPRK.
