Seoul: In a tragic incident on its return journey from Japan to Korea's southern port of Busan, the Japanese ship Ukishima-Maru exploded in 1945, claiming the lives of more than 500 people. The ship was transporting 3,725 Koreans who had been forced to work in Japan during the 1910-45 colonial period. Survivors have attributed the explosion to a bomb, while the Japanese government stated the vessel sank after accidentally hitting a mine.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the incident occurred shortly after Japan's announcement to renounce its claims to Korea following World War II. The explosion has led to demands from South and North Korean civic groups for the Japanese government to assume responsibility, alleging that the incident was premeditated. The tragic event remains a significant historical point in Korean-Japanese relations, highlighting the enduring tensions from the colonial era.