North Korean Media Calls For End Of Japan‘s “Flag of Rising Sun Shedding Rays”

KCNA cites Japan as having militarist ambitions

Such a mesmerizing symbol

PYONGYANG — North Korean state media went ballistic over the Japan Foreign Ministry posting the “flag of rising sun shedding rays” on their homepage, which was accompanied by an Japanese and English descriptor stating that the symbol is traditional to the Japanese government.

“The sheer sophism that the flag design has long been used in Japan and has been widely accepted by the international community points to the dark-hearted intention of Japan”, stated the Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday.

Originally used by medieval chieftains during the Edo period (1603–1868 CE) in Japan, the symbol has drawn the ire of North Korea, claiming the symbol is antiquated and a threat to world peace. The symbol was eventually adopted as the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army, and is still used to depict good fortune and Japanese tradition.

The article called out Shinzo Abe for attempting to beautify the blood-stained flag, reminding readers that the symbol once stood for manslaughter, aggression, theft and oppression for North Koreans.

The new agency reminded Japan that continually waving their flag of militarism and aggression in an attempt to achieve world dominance will bring the nation to a miserable end. While KCNA did not outright threaten a forceful reaction, it may choose to aim their next round of nuke tests toward areas of Japanese interest.

Upon checking both Foreign Ministry and Japan Government websites, the Flag of Rising Sun Shedding Rays was not immediately apparent — only the red circle flag that is widely accepted worldwide.

Japan has not written a direct response to KCNA’s sharp retorts.

In 2008, the flag was removed from a Langley, British Columbia classroom due to its association with Japanese Imperialism. A petition to restore the flag never gained traction, receiving only 116 signatures.