The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

Countries seek to lower tensions over 'comfort women'

The special envoy dispatched by South Korea's new President said Seoul wants regular summits and improved relations.

A man (L) wearing a mask of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kneels down in a mock apology next to the statue (R) of a teenage girl symbolizing former comfort women who served as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II

The special envoy dispatched by South Korea's new President Moon Jae-In said in Tokyo that Seoul wants regular summits and improved relations, which have been hindered by the memory of Japan's harsh colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910-1945.

Abe also struck a conciliatory note, saying: "With the new president, I wish to build future-oriented Japan-South Korea relations."

In what both governments hoped was a major step forward, the two countries had agreed in 2015 to a deal designed to end a row over Korean "comfort women" forced into sex slavery for Japanese soldiers during the World War II.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the election this month of Moon as president, replacing the ousted Park Geun-Hye, has cast doubt over the agreement, which both governments previously had said "resolved (the issue) finally and irreversibly".

Moon in a phone call with Abe last week said that most Koreans cannot accept the agreement.

That raised worries in Tokyo that the issue could again hinder ties, at a time when both countries are seeking unity to face the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

As part of the accord, Japan offered an apology and a payment totalling one billion yen ($9 million) to the dozens of remaining survivers.

But critics of the deal in South Korea said Japan did not go far enough, and earlier this year Tokyo recalled its ambassador over a statue symbolising "comfort women", which was erected outside its consulate in the South Korean city of Busan.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking to reporters after Thursday's meeting, envoy Moon Hee-Sang confirmed that the "comfort women" issue had been raised, but did not offer further details.

"We had a serious discussion but I find it uncomfortable to say more about it," Moon said, adding that both sides expressed their positions.

Japan has pressed Seoul to implement the deal and also to remove another "comfort women" statue near the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also China and other parts of Asia, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

DP Gachagua publicly seeks forgiveness from Mama Ngina Kenyatta

DP Gachagua publicly seeks forgiveness from Mama Ngina Kenyatta

ADVERTISEMENT