U.S. President Obama has called Japan's wartime program of sexual slavery a terrible violation
of human rights,... ruffling feathers in the Japanese media.
Park Ji-won tells us more.
"It was a terrible, egregious violation of human rights.
I think Prime Minister Abe recognizes the past is something that has to be recognized
honestly."
It is the first time that a U.S. President has officially and directly criticized Japan's
wartime program of sex slavery.
The remarks, made during a press conference in Korea on Friday, sent a shockwave through
Japan.
In response,...
Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said the issue is not a diplomatic matter.
In a television interview,... he said Japan is trying not to politicize the sensitive
issue.
While the government tried to minimize the effect of the remarks,...
Japanese media outlets offered their own analysis.
Kyodo News Agency and Yomiuri newspaper said...
Obama made the remarks to improve bilateral relations between Japan and Korea,... the
United States' two main allies in Northeast Asia.
The Asahi Shimbun said that, with Obama's remarks, Korea could now put more pressure
on Tokyo to address the sex slave issue.
Some point out,...
Obama's direct criticism of Japan's wartime sex slavery program were the result of Obama's
displeasure with Japanese Prime Minister Abe during a joint press conference held in Japan...
right after the summit between the two.
During the briefing, Prime Minister Abe justified his controversial visit to the Yasukuni Shrine,...
which enshrines the war dead, including 14 convicted war criminals, by saying he will
endeavor to gain an understanding of his respect for the shrine.
Hundreds of thousands women,... mostly Koreans,... were forced into sexual slavery at Japanese
wartime military brothels during World War II.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.