Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized on Tuesday for Japan’s 35-year colonial rule of Korea in a statement issued on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the annexation.

Kan expressed deep regret over the pain and suffering inflicted on the Korean people during the colonial period.

He said that Japan’s rule over the territory came despite heavy resistance from Korea, which was demonstrated by various calls for independence, including the March First Independence Movement.

Kan said that Japan’s colonial rule, which began with an annexation treaty signed in August of 1910, hurt the national pride of Korea and left its people with deep wounds.

He added that the Japanese government plans to return soon the ancient books and cultural assets Japan took from the Korean Peninsula during the colonial period.