Japan Press Weekly

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2019 October 22 - 29 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Japanese and South Korean women's groups issue joint statement for peace

The New Japan Women's Association (Shinfujin or NJWA) and Korean Women's Association United (KWAU) on October 24 published a joint statement calling on both the Japanese and South Korean governments to immediately enter into dialogue to improve bilateral relations and to achieve true peace in Northeast Asia.

The statement came following the talks held between Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon at Abe's official residence earlier on the day.

The statement points out that the wartime Korean "forced laborers" issue and the wartime Japanese military's "comfort women" issue can move towards an end only after the victims accept a solution, no matter what agreements the two governments made in the past. In order to achieve this end, the statement emphasizes, "The Japanese government and the companies concerned should fulfill their responsibilities."

The statement also points out, "At the root cause of the ongoing problems is the stance of the Abe government which not only fails to atone for Japan's past war of aggression, colonial rule, and human right violations but also intends to wipe the slate clean to start afresh."

The statement demands that the Japanese government go back to the 1998 bilateral joint declaration in which it expressed "deep remorse and heartfelt apology" for Japan's colonial rule over South Korea.

The statement calls on the two governments to refrain from taking any action that may worsen the situation and to work to promote peace, gender equality, and democracy in Northeast Asia through engaging in dialogue in a level-headed way.

Past related article:
> Rally held to promote grassroots-based solidarity between Japan and South Kore [September 8, 2019]