It has been decades since the war ended and yet the pain that the so-called 'comfort women' lingered through time. However, the recent aims of both South Korea and Japan to settle the dispute over comfort women as well as the aims of strengthening bilateral ties were praised by U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
Channel News Asia has recently reported that Ban welcomed the following talks between the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in Seoul. He also hoped that it would aid the improved and stronger bilateral relationship of both nations.
The same report added that under the new agreement, Japan seek the forgiveness of the comfort women and even one billion yen (US$8.3 million) payment to the Korean women who were forced to work as sex slaves during the war. According to Ban's spokesperson, "The U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is grateful for President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan for their headship and vision of a firmer and solid relationship between the two countries."
Indeed, even The Guardian noted that both nations work hand in hand to put a closure to the past and instead look forward for a better future. And both countries knew that it can only be attained if the dispute regarding comfort women is settled.
The same article added that what it seemed impossible to happen a few months ago, Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, rendered his "most sincere apologies" to the women. His statement was released in Seoul through his foreign minister, Fumio Kishida.
Moreover, according to Newzy, the destiny of the 46 surviving South Korean comfort women is a tremendously poignant issue in South Korea and a source of much suspicion that has stained relations with its previous colonial ruler for many years.
Although the road to recovery and reconciliation is in the works, there are still hurdles and challenges that need to be overcome. This can only be achieved if both nations, Japan and South Korea, continue to press on towards reconciliation and stronger bilateral ties, it was learned.
