South Korea's major political parties criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sunday for reportedly not planning to apologize for his country's wartime atrocities in an upcoming statement.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that Abe, who is scheduled to release a statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on Friday, didn't use the word "apology" in his draft and also didn't make any mention of Japan's colonization of Korea.
In response, the ruling Saenuri Party said Abe will "betray the trust of the international community" if he refuses to apologize for Japan's past wrongdoings.
The party's spokesman, Kim Young-woo, added that former Prime Ministers Tomiichi Murayama and Yasuhiro Nakasone have taken issue with Abe's stance on Japan's history.
"Abe must not take lightly commentaries by ex-Prime Minister Nakasone and other veteran politicians," Kim said. "He must not forget that honest reflection on its past is the only way for Japan to express its maturity."
Yoo Eun-hye, spokeswoman for the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, chided Japan for showing no willingness to improve bilateral ties in a future-oriented way.
"It's highly regrettable that Japan isn't willing to offer any type of apology in this symbolic year marking the 70th anniversary of (South Korea's) liberation," Yoo added. "Not giving an apology for the past is an expression of Japan's will to repeat its imperialistic ways." (Yonhap)
