Japan’s Aso to reaffirm 1993 apology over sex slavery


http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new...ticle_id=57946

SEOUL, South Korea -- Japan's foreign minister will reaffirm that Tokyo stands by its 1993 apology over sexual slavery in its World War II military brothels, when he visits South Korea this weekend, a senior Japanese diplomat said Friday.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso was set to visit South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on Saturday and Sunday for talks with his counterpart Song Min-soon.

However, Japan still maintains the coercion was "in a broad sense," but not "in a narrow sense" -- meaning it insists that government or military officials did not raid homes and kidnap women, as has been alleged.

It was unclear how South Korea might react to what Aso will say. Seoul's stance appears to have softened somewhat from the past, and it needs Tokyo's cooperation to resolve the international standoff over North Korea's nuclear program.

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