Park Praises Abe's WWII Statement to Certain Extent

Seoul, Aug. 15 (Jiji Press)--South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Saturday praised to a certain extent a statement released by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. In a speech to mark 70 years after the 1945 liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule, Park said it is true that many parts in the Abe statement are not satisfactory. But Park said she takes note of the fact that Abe made it clear to the international community that the views on history shown by past Japanese cabinets are unwavering. In the statement, Abe said, "Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war." "Such position articulated by the previous cabinets will remain unshakable into the future," he also said. The Park administration is aiming to hold a trilateral summit among South Korea, Japan and China in autumn this year and arrange a bilateral summit between Seoul and Tokyo on that occasion. Park stressed that views on history shown by past Japanese cabinets, including a statement issued in 1993 by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and a 1995 statement by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, are the foundations that have supported the relationship between South Korea and Japan. Abe must consistently act in good faith by sticking to his remark that he will uphold the past cabinet views, so that Japan can win the trust of neighboring countries and the international community. Park called on the Japanese government to resolve promptly and appropriately the issue of so-called comfort women, mainly Koreans, who were forced into prostitution for Japanese troops before and during the war. The Kono statement acknowledged that the former Japanese military "was, directly or indirectly, involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations and the transfer of comfort women." It also offered the Japanese government's "sincere apologies" to all victims. In the 1995 statement, Murayama expressed his "feelings of deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" for the damage and suffering Japan caused to other Asian countries through its "colonial rule and aggression." Noting that this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the South Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization, meanwhile, Park in her speech emphasized the need for a future-oriented approach in the bilateral relations. It is the time for South Korea and Japan to move together for a new future based on a correct understanding of history although there are many hurdles, she said. END