Korean Patriots Determined
*   To Snare In Beating Japan
By SOON HYUN, Executive Secretary
Sino-Korean People's League (Honolulu).
98
Koreans both in and out of Korea have never faced such
a golden opportunity as today to realize their national independence, since March 1, 1919, when they were united to declare independence from the unjust and inhuman rule of
Japan.
Since then, there have been in existence many schools
of thought concerning methods of achieving independence.
Some uphold non-resistance, like Ghandi of India. Some
dream of the accomplishment of Korea's freedom through
diplomacy, like certain American-educated Korean scholars.
Some pessimistic political leaders of Korea advocate autonomy under the Japanese government.
Above all, Koreans cannot forget that there has been
constant fighting opposition to the Japanese by unfailing
Korean patriots.
At Harbin, Manchuria, in 1909, An Chung Kun assassinated Ito Hakubun, the so-called "Father of Modern Japan"
who forced the Emperor of Korea to sign the protectorate
treaty of 1905.
Outside the gate "Sakurada" of the Imperial Palace at
Tokio, Lee Bong Chang made a daring attempt on the life of
Hirohito in January 1932.
In April 1932, the great bombing incident in Hong Kuil
Park, Shanghai, which resulted in the death of several important Japanese military leaders, including General Shira-
gawa, then commander-in-chief of the Shanghai district, was
executed by a lone Korean patriot, Yun Bong Kil.
These three direct fearless acts of opposition to the
world-wide Fascist enemy have given great impetus to the
people struggling for their freedom in Europe no less than
the people in the Orient.
Guerrillas Work Well
There have been many more direct action riots, acts of
sabotage, and guerrilla warfare against Japan both in and
out of Korea. Moreover, the Independent Korean Unit in
Siberia was engaged to fight the Japs during the border
clash between Japan and Russia in recent years.
There have also been two organized Korean forces fighting the Japs in China side by side with the Chinese army.
One is known as the Independence Army under Lee Chung
Chun, and the other as the Korean Volunteer Corps under
Kim Yak San. These two armed forces have been incorporated under the Chinese military control for united action.
Japan's Fate Sealed
Since Japan stabbed America in the back on December
7, 1941, she has for the first time in her history been forced
to combat a major armed resistance from the United Nations.
Today, Japanese pride themselves on the occupation of
Hong Kong, Malaya, Burma, N. E. I., the Philippines, and
some islands of the Aleutian Group.
The United Nations are compelled to hold second fronts
both in Europe and Asia. This necessitates enormous war
production at home and the stationing of unlimited numbers
of troops all over the world. However, when the United
Nations advance to destroy the Fascist- powers of Germany
and Japan, the latter will undoubtedly be defeated. This will
be the ultimate victory which the people of the world expect.
Koreans United For Freedom
What should we, the Koreans, do to contribute to this
great victory for the world's freedom? \
The question has been simplified by the elimination of
conflicts among Koreans themselves, both in and out of Korea. They are united to cry, "Let us fight the Japs for our
complete independence and full freedom."
•■..
However, two claims to the
eadership of the Independence
novement of Koreans in America
itill exist:
One insists on recognition by
he United States of the Korean
*rovisional Government on the
ground that such recognition may
acilitate the fighting fore*.
The other urges all factions to
mite immediately to fight the
aps wherever possible and with
rhateyer limited resources art> accessible.
v Such action, they insist, cannot
fail to claim the attention of the
United Nations and thus lead to
recognition of the Provisional Government.
Realistically, they place prompt
action before diplomatic delay. A
timely observation by the famous
American newspaper correspondent,
Anna Louise Strong,' in her recent
l book, "the Soviets Expected It,"
clearly supports this view. The fol- I
lowing is quoted from the book:
Contributors To Victory
"One thing I know, that this is
a world-wide struggle in which all
who wish to share in the world's
future   must   now   immediately
share.
, Europe's future will be settled
not by governments-in-exile.
It will be settled by the acts of
Europe's fighting people, who ally
themselves with the great battle
for the world.
It will be settled by the Serbian
peasants whose leaders hang from
gallows, by Czechs who remained
organized under two years of Nazi
rule; by that German pastor who
spent four years in a concentration
camp; by that Norwegian scientist
who refused to bow to Hitler; by
French workers dying today in
Paris, and by German workers and
farmers when they have cast off
the Nazi yoke."
Korea's Great Faith
Apart from any differing political theories, one point must be emphasized: That this is a nationwide struggle in Korea in which all
who wish to share the nation's
future must join.
Korea's future will be settled
not by any political party or
parties in exile! It will be settled
by the acts of Korea's fighting
people who willingly ally themselves with the United Nations for
the world's freedom.
It will be settled by the Korean
youths who give their precious
lives in guerrilla warfare.
It will be settled by the young
girls who stood very courageously
during flogging and torturing by
the Jap police for their participation in the national movement.
It will be settled by the Korean
writers who planted the seeds of
revolution among the Koreans
through their novels and poems.
It will be settled by the Korean
Christians who refused to bow before the Sun Goddess of Japan.
It will be settled by thousands
of Korean workers who burn and
destroy muntion factories, oil
tanks, airplanes, hangars and
communication lines.
It will be settled by millions of
common people whose slogan is,
"Rather die a free and faithful
man than live a slave to the Japs."
It will be settled by the loyal
and faithful leaders who do their
utmost for a united action to drive
the Japanese armed force out of
Asia and the Pacific.
There is no division among the
Koreans toward this great goal.
They are a united people for complete national independence and
full freedom.