April 19, 2024
Opinion

For the sake of unity, Japan must make amends for the “comfort women”

Examining the past is critical to peace on the Peninsula and a united front against North Korea

With South Korean President Park Geun-hye impeached on charges of corruption and her presidency in tatters, candidates for the office and other political opponents are feeding like jackals on her perceived missteps. Among these is the rashly-settled agreement between Japan and South Korea on the so-called "comfort women" issue.

The ripples from this are spreading wider and wider, seemingly on a near-daily basis. First, Seoul has declined to participate with Japan and the U.S. in what was to have been the first anti-submarine training involving all three countries aimed at early detection of North Korean submarines. Tokyo has expertise in this area, and Seoul has long been worried about Pyongyang’s ability to conduct threatening underwater activities.

Become a member for less than $4 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.