Abe rejects South Korean call for apology to ex-comfort women

January 13, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that he "absolutely cannot accept" South Korean President Moon Jae-in's request for his government to make a sincere apology to so-called former comfort women.

Abe's remarks came about following a New Year's news conference by Moon on Wednesday in which he demanded an apology and indicated that the 2015 agreement between the two countries on the issue of former comfort women in South Korea, who were forced into prostitution for Japanese troops before and during World War II, was a mistake.

Speaking to reporters at the prime minister's office before leaving Japan for a tour of six European countries, Abe stressed that the Japan-South Korea deal was a "promise" made between the two countries.

"It is both a universal and international principle to abide by such an agreement," he said.

"The Japanese side is implementing its promises in good faith," Abe said. "We will continue to push for the South Korean side to implement (the agreement)."

Under the 2015 accord, Japan and South Korea were committed to resolving the issue of former comfort women "finally and irreversibly." The Japanese government provided one billion yen to a South Korean foundation dedicated to supporting the women in South Korea.

At his news conference, Moon said his government will use its own funds to support former comfort women, rather than using Japanese assistance. South Korea hopes to discuss with Tokyo how best to use Japan's contribution, the president said.

On Friday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rejected the proposed talks as "totally unacceptable."

With the agreement, Japan and South Korea have confirmed a final and irreversible solution to the comfort women issue, Suga said at a news conference. Jiji Press