Yasumasa, Nagamine
Japanese authorities have decided to temporarily withdraw its Ambassador in South Korea Yasumasa, Nagamine, said the Agency “Yonhap”. This step was taken in response to the installation in front of the Consulate General in Busan monument to women victims of sexual violence during the Japanese occupation of the country in the first half of the twentieth century.
“Such actions have an undesirable impact on bilateral relations, is unacceptable,” TASS quoted the Secretary General of the Cabinet of Japan of Yoshihide Sougou. In addition, as reported by Kyodo, he announced the suspension of economic negotiations at the highest level.
The foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea Tokyo called unfortunate. “However, we want to emphasize the importance of development of bilateral relations based on mutual trust, despite the presence of complex problems,” — said the foreign Ministry.
The monument was erected by representatives of the South Korean public organizations in Pusan on December 28, but that same day it was removed. December 30 activists have secured approval from the city administration and the newly established statue next to the diplomatic mission of Japan.
In December 2015, Tokyo and Seoul settled the dispute regarding historical sexual slavery during the Second world war. As reported, Japan has recognized his “deep responsibility” for the “women of comfort”, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has brought “to the victims our sincere apologies”.
“Women of comfort” refers to residents of countries in East and South-East Asia, who were forced to work in military brothels (“comfort stations”) to meet the sexual needs of Japanese soldiers during the Second world war. Tokyo claimed that it was a personal choice of women. World historians insist that the women were kidnapped and forced to work in brothels. The number of “comfort women” ranged from 20 to 410 thousand people.
Korea from 1910 to 1945 was a Japanese colony. During this period, Koreans were discriminated against by Tokyo.