Japan’s past leaders have issued other apologies.
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It is estimated that during World War II over 200,000 women were enslaved by the Japanese Army many of these women belonged to Korea and were physically, sexually and mentally abused. Still, the countries say that if Japan does what it has promised, the issue will be “finally and irreversibly resolved”.
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South Korean and Japanese diplomats have met met about a dozen times since April 2014 to discuss the comfort women issue.
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Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the Japanese government “feels acutely responsible” for the damage it caused to the honor and dignity of many women, with the involvement of the Japanese military during World War II.
He added that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed an “apology and repentance from the bottom of his heart” to those affected by the tragedy. “I still have blood tears in my soul when I think about what happened”. In 1993, Japan’s then chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, acknowledged Japan’s role in pressing the women into sexual service. He emphasized that the funds to be provided to the envisioned foundation did not constitute compensation.
On one hand, the women, whose ages range between 88 and 100, said they are grateful for government efforts, but on the other hand said the deal was not a legal remedy but rather a financial settlement. Most expert historians accept that a mixture of coercion, deception and outright force was used against numerous women.
“What’s important is to take necessary measures to alleviate the pains of comfort women through a faithful and quick implementation of the deal”, Park said in a public message posted on the Web site of the presidential office.
Japan’s rule over South Korea lasted from 1910 to the end of the conflict in 1945. American textbooks have also included references to the brothels. It could mark the beginning of improved relations between the two countries, both strong allies of the United States.
“Park’s definitely been feeling the pressure from the U.S. and needs to do more to dispel lingering doubts about whom she’s siding with”, said Yang Kee Ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University in Seoul.
On issues involving Japan’s wartime past, Mr Abe often seems torn between nationalist instincts and diplomatic necessity. Tokyo had long maintained that its payment of $800 million in grants or loans to South Korea in 1965 settled the issue; South Korea disagreed.
In return, South Korea will remove a statue symbolizing “comfort women” in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
China has also been calling on South Korea to help with its campaign to make the world more aware of its suffering during the Japanese invasion, successfully having documents on the Nanking massacre listed in Unesco’s Memory of the World register.
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So far, 238 South Korean victims have registered with the government.
