North Korea Cites "Katsura-Taft Agreement"... Claims U.S. Allowed Japanese Colonization

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Lee Jieun] On the 116th anniversary of the signing of the Eulsa Treaty, North Korea's external propaganda outlets have cited the "Katsura-Taft Agreement," arguing that the United States shares responsibility for Japan's signing of the Eulsa Treaty.

On the 17th, "Meari" referenced the Katsura-Taft Agreement, stating, "Through this, the United States allowed Japan to arbitrarily violate the sovereignty of the Joseon feudal government and turn it into a colony."

The Katsura-Taft Agreement was an understanding between Japan and the United States in which each recognized the other's sphere of influence over the Philippines and Joseon, respectively. North Korean media referred to this as the "Katsura-Taft Agreement."

The outlet commented, "It is no exaggeration to say that the fabrication of the Eulsa Treaty (Eulsa Neugyak) by imperial Japan, in other words, the Joseon feudal government falling into colonial rule under Japan, was the result of the United States' dark intervention," and added, "It is not particularly surprising that the United States, which treats treaties as mere scribbles on scrap paper, colluded with Japan over the Korean Peninsula issue at the time without any sense of good faith."

"Uriminzokkiri" also asserted, "The Eulsa Treaty is an illegal and unlawful document with no legal force whatsoever, a product of conspiracy fabricated under the coercion of imperial Japan and the protection and backing of the United States."

The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, on the same day published an article titled "A Colossal Crime: Usurping National Sovereignty with an Illegal and Invalid Forged Document," criticizing, "Based on the bandit-like Eulsa Treaty, which was fabricated at gunpoint, imperial Japan carried out the annexation of Korea and implemented policies aimed at eradicating the Korean nation."

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