S Korea, Japan hold first post-summit talks on WWII sex slaves

Do the right thing, Japan. Apologize again and change the context of your history books that highlight the brutality of war. I firmly believe by acknowledging your past wrong doings and providing relief by revealing war crimes to the public will finally cease this yearning for justice.

WWII sex slaves

Finally the correct term!. Well done Japan Today. And no Japan, the issue was not settled by the 1965 treaty. South Koreans don't have to feel bound by any blood money accepted by their military government. The real issue at stake in any case is the correct teaching of history - which Japan can't claim it is doing by a long shot

Increase the Peace. And teach it in schools!

Maybe Abe is finally realizing that his right-wing semantics are costing him more than he thought. Let's TRY to be optimistic and hope he can resolve the issue ahead.

Then again, maybe I'm living in a pipe dream

I don't agree necessarily with their being any further compensation (in terms of money), but I DO think the government must offer a FORMAL apology, recognized by the entire nation and put down in writing and that cannot be questioned or rescinded or reworded or reinterpreted later. THAT they can talk about -- but the idea of 'talks' over the issue is just ridiculous. It happened, and they have to deal with what to do about it, not whether it was done or to what degree.

Big chance for Japan to show it is earnest about moving forward in a manner that will benefit all and put the issue to rest.

Ganbatte Japan! Show you have matured and can be respected as a member of the international community by acting for humanity, not face saving.

Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall during this little poop fight! You'd wan to make sure you are not anywhere near the fan coz you would get covered in it!

government must offer a FORMAL apology, recognized by the entire nation and put down in writing and that cannot be questioned or rescinded or reworded or reinterpreted later

what were the kono and murayama statements then? certain segments of the population will always "question" japan's role. it's ridiculous to believe otherwise. but those people don't write official statements for the government; therefore, the previous apologies from K and M still stand.

This is South Korea's way to put the people together otherwise they'd have had lots of coup d'etat like Thailand.

what were the kono and murayama statements then?

on both occasions, the Japanese parliament refused to endorse them officially. They ended up being just apologies from individual Japanese citizens. Then their apologies were further undermined by Abe's government. It is sad that you have to negotiate something that Japan should have done on its own, decades ago. Can you imagine Poland negotiating with Germany in 2015, to apologize for starting the war and invading Poland in 1939, because Germany refuses to admit they did anything wrong? But that's what's exactly happening in S.Korea and Japan.

I don't agree necessarily with their being any further compensation (in terms of money),

Why should Japan not follow Germany's outstanding example?

They ended up being just apologies from individual Japanese citizens. Then their apologies were further undermined by Abe's government.

Exactly. Which makes me wonder whether this is more empty words from Shin-chan

Papi2013NOV. 11, 2015 - 05:34PM JST

what were the kono and murayama statements then?

on both occasions, the Japanese parliament refused to endorse them officially. They ended up being just apologies from individual Japanese citizens.

Why do not we keep the discussion nice and based on facts?

The Parliament did not "refuse" to endorse them. Rather, Murayama administration maintained majority of the Parliament. The parliament does not have constitutional power to handle foreign policy. Any parliament resolution on diplomacy, except ratification of treaty, is unbinding and unofficial.

Kono was the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Murayama was the Prime Minister of Japan. They were more than Japanese citizens.

The magic words to be tought and learned by all: Sorry, Please, Forgive me, I apologize. These few words coud change the world.

Why should Japan not follow Germany's outstanding example?

I as a postwar German am REALLY thankful that out neighbor countries gave us a new chance and accepted the apologies (and compensation money probably...).

Living near the border to France I can say that this border nearly has vanished. Who would have thought of this 70 years ago? This was only possible because France (and Poland, and...) actively took part in normalizing the relationship. And this is what I want to stress here: It takes both sides. One side has to sincerely apologize and the other side has to accept this by heart.

But it is definitely worth the effort for both sides. Living in a peaceful and understanding manner (while accepting cultural differences) with your neighbors is invaluable. Hope that one day Japan and South Korea will come to the same conclusion...

Finally the correct term!. Well done Japan Today.

Agreed +1000

I do not believe Japan needs to apologize again. This issue was already settled in The Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea. Moreover, Japan paid $20,000 for compensation and $50,000 for medical care for the women and the governmental officials, Yoshirou Mori, Junichirou Koizumi, and Keizo Obuchi sent a letter to show apology to every single ex-comfort woman, but Korean government stopped delivering on purpose. You can see this fact in Japanese Ministry of Foreign affairs. Because Japanese believe what they have done so far for Korea is enough, they do not want to apologize any more. 70 years have been passed since the end of the War. Why they are still trapped in history.

The difference with the German apology is that it was uttered by non-hitler postwar administration for war crimes of nazis. With japan, the ldp is just imperial japan under a new name but ideology as before. In Germany everything changed. Hitler was dead. In japan nothing has changed. There's the rub.

As a postwar French having studied near German border, I am glad Germany has changed and accepted mutual understanding. It benefits in every domain, and peace above all. Thank you to all who made that possible. Japan should accept the change: no apology from government protecting ideasof Japan being the main victim, stop having politicians from warmonger families, apologize as often as needed (it is free, and costs only a heart effort). Learn from history is lesson taught.

Offer a sincere, official apology and send a copy to each victim in fancy paper on government letterhead, but DO NOT provide more money. The financial side was settled decades ago. If the Korean leadership at the time used the money for other things instead of forwarding the funds to the victims, don't blame Japan.

**Offer a sincere, official apology and send a copy to each victim in fancy paper on government letterhead

Well that is what had been aready done from historical PMs as part of Asian Women Fund package.

Germany did it and Japan can too maybe even better and don't try to change or erase History!

Good Gawd!

Is this The Only thing on the minds of South Koreans - Sex Slaves?

South Koreans cannot address any other issues?

Global Communist Takeover?

Trade Deficits?

NORTH KOREA?

...Sex Slaves.

That's the only thing in Ms. Parks agenda - Sex & Slaves

What are you trying to tell The World South Korea?

Have any of those inner ambitions yet to be explored?

You know, they have special clubs in Tokyo's Kabuki-cho that specialize in that kind of Lifestyle so anytime you want to bring out that "Freak on a Leash" that you all are harboring inside you, then feel free to come to Japan's Kabuki-cho and get your "Freak On".

Otherwise, may we move on to more pressing issues?

Park had previously rebuffed all summit proposals, arguing that Tokyo had yet to properly atone for its wartime past and 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

So, this isn't about the sex slaves after all...

Nowadays, even some Japanese newspapers use the correct terminology, "Sex Slaves" as opposed to "Comfort Women." We have to credit Abe for making that happen.

Shinzo made it possible in his attempt to whitewash Japanese history/savagery. He instigated many historians and other people in general to readdress Japanese war crimes. In the end, whether Shinzo intended or not, more people will be better educated about the heinous war crimes committed by Japanese. Hopefully, more Japanese can realize that their acts were shameful, nothing to be proud of. Japanese need to leave the past behind as is and learn to MOVE ON.

It takes both sides. One side has to sincerely apologize and the other side has to accept this by heart.

And therein lies the rub. South Korea would be more than willing to lay this to rest, if Japan issued an official, government-endorsed, irrevocable apology. Making it a crime for political leaders to deny atrocities would also be a start.

Nothing wrong to deny false charges.

Nothing in the least bit false about them

The historical backgrounds of Germany and Japan differ completely, in terms of what happened during the Second World War and under what kind of postwar situation they engaged in postwar settlement. For example, Japan dealt collectively with the issue of reparations with the countries concerned in a manner that was generally accepted by the international community at the time, pursuant to the San Francisco Peace Treaty, treaties and instruments. On the other hand, the Government of Japan is aware that Germany took the approach of personal compensation as it could not deal collectively with countries concerning various issues including reparations as Japan did, since Germany was divided into East and West following the war.

If Japan does personal compensation, Germany after the unification comes to have to do the compensation between nations. And, San Francisco Peace Treaty prohibits Japanese Government to pay compensation to war victims of foreign nations.Read Article 14(b) and Article 26.

When Korea submitted a German example to the Pacific Theater, I think that an Austrian example is brought in as a necessary logic. Korea was the annexation nation of Japan. Also, Austria was the annexation nation of Germany. Austria has chosen the position of the defeated country and she has continued to apology and to pay the reparations like Germany and Japan. If Korean government want to compare Japan with Germany, Why does the Korean government not compare own country with the Austria?