Japan should apologize for wartime crimes in Korea, Ozawa says

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- The visiting head of Japan's ruling party said
Saturday his country should apologize for wrongdoings it committed during its
colonization of Korea in the early half of last century.

Speaking at a South Korean university ahead of his dinner meeting with President
Lee Myung-bak later in the day, Ichiro Ozawa also called for increased
cooperation among his country, China and South Korea in dealing with regional
instabilities.
"There was an unfortunate era in modern history involving the relations of the
two countries. It is a historical fact that I, as a member of the Japanese nation
and Japan, must apologize to you," the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) told a group of about 250. He spoke through a Korean translator.
Japan colonized Korea, now divided into North and South, from 1910-1945. Critics
say Japan should fully apologize for its crimes during the period, including the
sexual slavery of women from nations it ruled.
After leading a delegation of 140 DPJ lawmakers to China, Ozawa visited South
Korea Friday evening for a three-day trip that diplomatic sources in Seoul said
he stressed was personal.
During his two-day trip to Beijing, Ozawa expressed concern over China's military
build-up. On Saturday, the politician seen as wielding heavy influence on the new
Japanese administration said the three Northeast Asian countries need to
strengthen their ties to overcome instabilities in their region.
"It is important that the three countries strengthen their solidarity based on
trust," he said, adding the sides should seek to foster peace by forming reliable
relations.
The countries make up half of the stalled six-party talks that aim to
denuclearize North Korea, which has conducted two nuclear tests since 2006.
Focusing on the relations between Seoul and Tokyo, Ozawa said solidarity should
be pursued in overcoming historical issues between the two nations.
"I believe everyone here thinks that Japan and South Korea should pursue friendly
relations and solidarity," he said. "If we remain fixated on the past history, no
good results can come from the future of the two nations."
(END)