Rep. Judy Chu welcomed a new agreement between Japan and South Korean regarding the so-called “comfort women” who were captured and used as sex slaves by the Japanese Army during World War II.
“This is an historic apology for an historic wrong by Japan,” said Chu, D-Monterey Park. “For the women who were forced into sex slavery by the Japanese Army during World War II, the wounds have stayed open for decades.
“Unfortunately for these women, Japan has often denied responsibility and blamed their suffering on war. This has made it difficult for the survivors to recover and offers a shield to those who would repeat these horrors in the future.
“We have a responsibility to close this painful chapter and help the survivors move forward. By acknowledging both Japan’s role and remorse, and by contributing to a fund for the survivors, Japan is setting an example for the world that such crimes cannot be forgotten, ignored, or repeated.
“I hope that this will help the survivors and the people of Korea and Japan to move forward in peace.”
Under the agreement announced Monday, Japan will apologize to the Korean women for the physical and emotional pain and contribute approximately $8.3 million to a fund for the survivors.
Chu had repeatedly called on Japan to acknowledge its actions, most recently during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Washington in April.
—City News Service