Moon Wants No Diplomatic Dispute over Comfort Women Issue

August 15, 2018

Seoul- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday said he wants to see no diplomatic dispute between his country and Japan over the issue of so-called comfort women.

Moon made the remark in a speech marking a national day to honor the women forced to work at Japanese military brothels before and during World War II.

The national day, designated by law last November, is the anniversary of the first public testimony by one of the women, Kim Hak-sun, in 1991.

"I hope that this issue will not lead to a diplomatic dispute between Korea and Japan," said the president, according to translated excerpts of the speech released by the presidential office.

However, Moon added that he does not believe the comfort women issue can be "solved through diplomatic solutions," expressing again his reluctance to support the December 2015 agreement between Seoul and Tokyo to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue. He took office in May 2017.

Moon defined the issue as "not simply a historical matter between Korea and Japan but rather a matter of sexual violence against women during wartime as well as the universal human rights of women."

"It is an issue that can be solved only when the world, including ourselves and Japan, deeply reflects on sexual violence against all women and human rights problems and comes to a strong awareness and learns a lesson in a way that prevents this from ever repeating again," he also said.

He vowed that his government will make its sincerest effort to restore the dignity and honor of former comfort women and heal their trauma.

In response to the speech, the Japanese Foreign Ministry told Seoul through a diplomatic channel that it is important to fully implement the 2015 agreement. Jiji Press