Ink-and-brush writing left by iconic Korean independence activist An Jung-geun in the days before his execution has been repatriated from Japan ahead of the anniversary of Korean liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, cultural heritage authorities said Thursday. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation unveiled the work to media at Deoksu Palace in central Seoul, ahead of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day. Translated as "International law is no match for a cannon," the phrase consisting of eight Chinese characters was written by An in March 1910 at Lushun Prison in what is now northeastern China, just days before his death on March 26, the KHS said. An was executed by Japanese authorities after assassinating Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, in Harbin in 1909. He argued the killing was a legitimate act of war and demanded a trial under international law, but Japan prosecuted him for murder and sentenced him to death. The KHS said the inscription reflects An's "deep disillusionment with the impotence of international