Japanese ambassador returns to S. Korea after 85-day absence

By Park Sae-jin Posted : April 3, 2017, 17:15 Updated : April 3, 2017, 17:15

A comfort woman statue sits a street across Japanese embassy in Seoul. [Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]


Japan's top envoy to South Korea will come back this week, ending his 85-day absence that began at the height of a diplomatic row over "comfort woman" statues symbolizing the plight of Asian women sexually enslaved by Japan's imperial army during World War II.

The South's foreign ministry said Japan's Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine would return to Seoul on Tuesday. He was recalled on January 9 in protest at a girl statue erected by civic groups in front of Japan's consulate in the southern port city of Busan.

Japan's decision to send back Nagamine comes amid South Korea's prolonged power vacuum caused by the impeachment of Park Geun-hye who was expelled from her office and imprisoned following months of political turmoil. Nagamine's absence has largely failed to grab public attention in South Korea.

The two countries have been locked in a diplomatic row reignited by the construction of the "comfort woman" statuary. Japan thinks the issue exposes embarrassing historical facts.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women mostly from Korea were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese troops. Many South Koreans still harbor deep resentment against Japan over its 1910-45 colonial rule, and they want Tokyo's sincere apology.

Seoul and Tokyo reached a landmark deal in 2015 to resolve the emotional "comfort woman" issue after Japan agreed to donate one billion yen ($9 million) to a foundation dedicated to supporting the victims of sexual slavery.

In return, Japan wanted South Korea to tear down the statues set up outside Japanese legations, but Seoul officials have refused to make a clear pledge saying they should win approval from civic groups.

In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the decision to send the ambassador back to Seoul was made to more effectively cope with the political situation in South Korea and also demand faithful implementation of what was agreed upon in the 2015 deal. Outspoken civic group and politicians in South Korea want renegotiations.
 
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com

기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기