@Rdrop, good point. I think
@Alaric88 has one too. You bring up both sides of the same coin. Toxic nationalism in each country pushes us to demonize foreigners and prevents people from realizing what all adults must, that our country did (and does) bad things.
Japan denies a lot of its history and its minorities equal rights to appease its nationalists, as does America vis-a-vis Native Americans, slaves, African Americans, asians, immigrants, women, and war victim around the world. Like China, Korea tends to demonize the Japanese who invaded (like Americans demonize the British who they fought for independence). They exaggerate their heroic qualities and Japanese inhumanity, but the Japanese invaders were in the wrong and did terrible things (massacres, chemical weapons, using locals as comfort women, dressing as civilians to ambush soldiers, ordering civilian suicides to protect intel, killing minority soldiers who surrendered, etc.). We all have room to improve, some more than others.
That said, this chapter's epic battle is still easy to appreciate. That invasion had few positives. Invasion means losing loved ones, community, and heritage. While a successful defense against the odds brings hope to a broader community of survivors. It is also epic for giving us a glimpse of a person's struggle to overcome her guilt and help her people survive. It was somewhat diminished by the schemes and ulterior motives involved, but her heroism shined through. Thanks for translating.