-Caveat Lector- N.Korea Warns Japan of Retaliation SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Amid rising tensions, North Korea threatened Japan today with ``merciless retaliation'' unless Tokyo atones for its colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The strong words came in a statement issued to mark the 54th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan on Aug. 15, 1945. ``If Japan opts to open good-neighborly relations through liquidation of the past, the (North) will welcome it with pleasure,'' said the statement, carried by the country's foreign news outlet, the Korean Central News Agency. ``But if it repeats its crime-woven history and undertakes a reckless provocation, the (North) will never miss the opportunity of meting out merciless retaliation,'' the statement said. During Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule, Koreans were banned from using their Korean names and language. Millions of Korean men were conscripted into the Japanese army, and historians say up to 200,000 Korean women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. Relations between North Korea and Japan have plunged to a new low amid reports that the North's communist government plans to test a long-range missile despite warnings against it from the United States, South Korea and Japan. U.S. and Japanese officials say a North Korean missile launch will harm stability in the region, triggering an arms race. But North Korea says it has a ``sovereign right'' to test-fire missiles and accuses Washington and Tokyo of plotting to invade the North. The awkwardly translated English statement from North Korea said: ``If Japan dare turn to showdown of strength in a bid to find a pretext to realize the wild ambition for reinvasion, we will have no option but to take a corresponding countermeasure.'' Japan normalized relations with South Korea in 1965 but has no official ties with North Korea. The two Koreas were divided after World War II and fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. Several years of normalization talks between Tokyo and Pyongyang have made little progress. A major sticking point arose when North Korea sent a rocket sailing over Japan into the Pacific Ocean last August. The test demonstrated that Japan is well within reach of North Korean missiles. In retaliation, Japan has suspended food aid. It has threatened to impose further economic and other sanctions if North Korea fires another missile. Japan today said it was prepared to improve ties with Pyongyang if the North was ready to abandon its nuclear weapons and missile programs and resolve other pending issues between the two countries. ``We believe it is important to respond (to North Korea) by balancing dialogue,'' said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka, the main government spokesman. Meanwhile, the United States and South Korea today announced plans to conduct a large-scale joint military exercise next week. The annual exercise, code-named Ulji Focus Lens, will run for 12 days starting Monday, with 14,000 U.S. soldiers and 56,000 South Korean troops participating, a joint statement said. The United States and South Korea hold several joint exercises each year. North Korea routinely protests such exercises, calling them preparations for war against it. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
