Full coverage: 85th Anniversary of the '9/18 Incident'

September 18th marks the 85th anniversary of what had been the precursor to Japan's invasion of China. A joint exhibit in remembrance of the event is being held in South Korea. The country was also a target of Japanese aggression during World War II.

It's known in China simply as the September 18th incident.

A dynamite explosion was staged by Japanese military officers near present day Shenyang in the early 1930s, which Japan would later use to justify an invasion of China.

To mark the event South Korea's Independence Hall is holding a special exhibition in conjunction with China's 9.18 Historical Museum.

“At first I didn’t know much about the 9.18 incident. But after learning about it, I’m very glad that Korea and China were able to chase away Japan together and gain our freedom,” said Choi Soon-Sung, student.

Visitors to the exhibit can learn about the historical background leading up to the incident.

Artifacts from the time illustrate details of the event and the eventual fall of China's northeastern region.

In the aftermath, the exhibit features China's fight for liberation from Japanese occupiers.

Koreans understand fully well Japanese wartime aggression. Japan annexed the Korean Peninsula for three-and-a-half decades in the early 20th century. That’s why organizers say there’s a lot to learn for Korean visitors at this exhibition to relate to China in that both countries fought and won liberation over Japanese occupation.

“I hope this exhibit will spread the history of these joint movements and provide the chance to reflect on the long history of friendly relations between Korea and China,” said Ok Ju-Youn, Curatorial Affairs Department of the Independent Hall of Korea.

Over 200 photos and nearly five dozen artifacts relating to the September 18 incident are on display at this exhibition, which runs until October 4.

Unresolved historical events continue to loom over Northeast Asia.

But through a better understanding of the past, there may be hope for a brighter future.