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.
Suga, speaking at a regular briefing, also urged cooperation between South Korea and Japan to tackle the threat posed by North Korea.
The two Koreas have pursued a thaw in relations that began ahead of last month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea, but Seoul remains a key part of the international push to increase pressure on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
