Park urges Tokyo to resolve sex slavery issue

 President Park Geun-hye on Friday once again urged Japan to resolve the issue of its sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II through a sincere apology and compensation, emphasizing the “universal” nature of human rights of women.

In a written interview with eight news wire services from around the world, she also said she is open to holding one-on-one talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as long as he abandons his nuclear ambitions and makes progress in cross-border ties. 

Citing the rapid aging of the so-called comfort women and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s own touching on women’s rights in armed conflict at the U.N., Park warned that Tokyo will face a “heavy historic burden” should it keeps “dragging on without acknowledging the problem” and maintains an impenitent attitude towards its colonial brutalities.

“In consideration of the urgency of the issue, I expect the Japanese government to quickly present a solution that is acceptable to the victims and deemed reasonable by the Korean people,” the president said in the interview with the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies.

“The Japanese Prime Minister and I agreed to expedite consultations for the early resolution of the issue at the Korea-Japan summit held on Nov. 2, I believe now is high time to make a decision to attend to the wounds from the past and heal them.”

The two sides have been trying to end the dispute through seven rounds of director-general-level meetings since April 2014 but made little headway in bridging the gap between their respective positions.

Seoul demands an official, sincere apology and compensation for the victims and their families, while Tokyo claims the issue was settled in a 1965 agreement that restored bilateral diplomatic relations.

“In this year marking the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, our two countries need to tackle history issues on the basis of a correct understanding of history, thereby creating a turning point for a new journey into the future,” she added.

As for inter-Korean ties, Park called for Pyongyang to follow through on an Aug. 25 agreement and improve relations in a stable manner, stressing the need to gradually build trust and lay the groundwork for an eventual reunification.

Top officials in charge of security and cross-border affairs held a rare meeting at the border village of Panmunjeom and agreed to launch formal talks to advance their relations in Seoul or Pyongyang and arrange reunions of separated families, which took place last month.

“There is no reason not to hold an inter-Korean summit if a breakthrough comes in solving the North Korean nuclear issue and progress is made in improving the South-North relationship,” she said.

“But it will be possible only when the North comes forward for a proactive and sincere dialogue. What counts most is North Korea’s sincerity and determination to act on its words.”

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)