South Korean president isn’t forgiving Japan for forcing women into sexual slavery, despite 2015 deal to settle war issue
The controversy of the so-called comfort women – those forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during the second world war – has marred relations between the neighbours for decades
South Korean President Moon Jae-in described Japan’s wartime use of “comfort women” as a “crime against humanity” on Thursday in some of his strongest comments yet, sparking an immediate protest from his key ally in containing North Korea.
Moon said during a speech marking a national holiday commemorating Korean resistance to Japanese occupation – his first since taking office last year – that Japan was in no position to declare the emotionally charged issue settled.
“To resolve the comfort women issue, the Japanese Government, the perpetrator, should not say the matter is closed,” Moon said.
“The issue of a crime against humanity committed in time of war cannot be closed with just a word. A genuine resolution of unfortunate history is to remember it and learn a lesson from it.”
His comments drew an immediate rebuke from Tokyo.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga described Moon’s comments as “extremely regrettable”.
