Pyongyang, March 13 (KCNA) -- Recorded in the history of the Japanese imperialists' aggression on Korea is the murder of Empress Myongsong as a thrice-cursed killing and a hideous criminal act.

The Japanese aggressors' moves to colonize Korea reached the extremes in the late 19th century. However, their domination over Korea came to be put in a crisis due to interference and pressure by big powers, and Empress Myongsong's enforcement of anti-Japanese policy served as another big blow to Japan.

The Japanese aggressors, unable to fulfill their wild ambition, sought a way out in eliminating Empress Myongsong.

They hatched a criminal plot to murder the first lady of Korea, chose Lieutenant General Goro Miura as the best man for the job and dispatched him to Korea.

This heinous military gangster, with the absolute authority to mobilize any means necessary for murdering Empress Myongsong, worked out a detailed plan for carrying it out.

On October 8, 1895, the criminal act was committed under the direction of Miura.

The Japanese murderers intruded into the Korean Imperial Palace and confined the emperor and the prince, where they were, and ransacked the palace to find the empress.

They went on a killing spree, murdering all court ladies on their way. They finally found the empress breathing the last breath among the dead ladies. They dragged her body wrapped in quilt to a pile of firewood they had already prepared, poured oil and set fire on it. When their aim was achieved, Miura said that Korea belongs to Japan as its result.

After brutally killing Empress Myongsong, the Japanese imperialists got more undisguised in their moves to subjugate Korea. They finally occupied Korea by force of arms.

The murder case was a hideous state-sponsored terrorism directly linked with the implementation of the policy of aggression on Korea. -0-