The South Korean parliamentary speaker said Monday that last year's agreement reached by Seoul and Tokyo on the wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women does not require approval from the National Assembly, but added that the deal was reached without sufficient public discussion.
Under last year's landmark deal, Tokyo expressed its apology and contrition for its colonial-era atrocities, and agreed to provide 1 billion yen ($9.2 million) for a foundation to be established by Seoul to support the surviving victims, euphemistically called "comfort women."
Historians estimate more than 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were forced into sexual slavery at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II.
The decision, however, has been under fire as some of the victims and their supporters have accused it of failing to obtain Japan's acknowledgment of legal responsibility. Detractors have also said the agreement was reached without prior consultation with the victims.
"While the issue will be discussed in the parliament after the inauguration of the 20th National Assembly on May 30, in my view the issue does not call for parliamentary approval," National Assembly speaker Chung Ui-hwa told college students during his visit to Japan.
Chung, however, added that the Seoul-Tokyo deal was inked without sufficient public debate.
"The two governments must endeavor to carry out the agreements reached in the deal," Chung added. "But due to the sensitivity of the issue, it is difficult for me to make statements as the parliamentary speaker."
Chung added the youth of the two countries must engage in joint efforts for the prosperity of the Northeast Asian region.
The parliamentary speaker then expressed concerns over nuclear threats made by North Korea.
"It is hard to anticipate peace with antagonistic North Korea holding nuclear weapons at the heart of Northeast Asia," Chung said.
"If the citizens of South Korea and Japan bolster trust, and if Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo share a joint vision of East Asia, we can make headway in finding solutions to the North Korean nuke issue," he said. (Yonhap)
