ID :
205905
Thu, 09/08/2011 - 05:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205905
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to propose talks with Japan soon over former wartime sex slaves
SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will soon propose holding talks with Japan to discuss the issue of Tokyo's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II, a senior government official said Thursday.
South Korean officials have called on Japan to take more sincere steps on the matter since the nation's top court ruled last week that it is unconstitutional for Seoul to take no specific action to settle the dispute with Tokyo over its refusal to compensate the victims forced to serve Japan's military.
The issue of the former sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women," is one of the most emotional unresolved issues between South Korea and Japan. The Korean Peninsula was a Japanese colony from 1910-45.
"We take the Constitutional Court's ruling on the issue of comfort women with seriousness and humility and will soon propose holding consultations with Japan to discuss the issue," the foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.
The official said the proposal would be made as early as this week or next week.
In addition, the ministry will soon set up a task force to review what measures it can take to resolve the issue, beyond diplomatic actions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said last week, "The formation of the arbitration committee (with Japan) could also be taken into consideration as an option."
According to historians, up to 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were coerced into sexual servitude at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II.
Japan has acknowledged its wartime military used sex slaves, but refuses to directly compensate or apologize to victims individually, maintaining that all claims were settled with South Korea by the postwar Treaty of Basic Relations with South Korea in 1965. Under the pact, South Korea received US$800 million in grants and soft loans from Japan.
Japan's former wartime sexual enslavement is becoming an increasingly urgent priority as most victims are elderly and fear they may die before they receive compensation or an apology from Japan.
South Korean officials have called on Japan to take more sincere steps on the matter since the nation's top court ruled last week that it is unconstitutional for Seoul to take no specific action to settle the dispute with Tokyo over its refusal to compensate the victims forced to serve Japan's military.
The issue of the former sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women," is one of the most emotional unresolved issues between South Korea and Japan. The Korean Peninsula was a Japanese colony from 1910-45.
"We take the Constitutional Court's ruling on the issue of comfort women with seriousness and humility and will soon propose holding consultations with Japan to discuss the issue," the foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity.
The official said the proposal would be made as early as this week or next week.
In addition, the ministry will soon set up a task force to review what measures it can take to resolve the issue, beyond diplomatic actions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae said last week, "The formation of the arbitration committee (with Japan) could also be taken into consideration as an option."
According to historians, up to 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were coerced into sexual servitude at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II.
Japan has acknowledged its wartime military used sex slaves, but refuses to directly compensate or apologize to victims individually, maintaining that all claims were settled with South Korea by the postwar Treaty of Basic Relations with South Korea in 1965. Under the pact, South Korea received US$800 million in grants and soft loans from Japan.
Japan's former wartime sexual enslavement is becoming an increasingly urgent priority as most victims are elderly and fear they may die before they receive compensation or an apology from Japan.
