1. The Japanese government disclosed on June 20 the outcome of its so-called review of the details leading to the drafting of the Kono Statement. The Kono Statement had been issued in 1993 by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono of Japan to acknowledge the recruitment, transfer, control, etc., of the sexual slavery victims by Japan’s Imperial Armed Forces against their will as a whole.

2. The Japanese government conducted the review of the Kono Statement, while ostensibly pledging to uphold it. The Government of the Republic of Korea repeatedly stressed that the review by the Japanese government itself runs counter to its pledge to uphold the Statement and thus is meaningless and unnecessary. The ROK government expresses its deep regret over the fact that the Japanese side pushed ahead with the review despite such position of the ROK government.

3. The Japanese government had mentioned that the purpose of the review was only to objectively study the drafting process of the Kono Statement, not to verify once again the historical facts regarding the issue of sexual slavery victims. However, as the results of the review have misleading content that undermines the credibility of the Kono Statement, the ROK government expresses its position based on the hard facts as follows:

First, the Kono Statement is a document which the Japanese government drew up based on its own investigation and judgment to announce its position on the issue of sexual slavery victims drafted by Japan’s Imperial Armed Forces during World War II. Back then, the ROK government clearly maintained the stance that the verification of the relevant truth is not a subject of negotiations between the two countries. At repeated requests from the Japanese side, the ROK government merely presented its views informally;

Second, there can be no firmer and clearer evidence of the coerciveness of Japan’s sexual enslavement than the very vivid testimonies by 16 victims of sexual slavery. Japan’s high-level government officials delivered to the ROK side their plan to issue a statement based on the testimonies of sexual slavery victims and extended their appreciation to the ROK government for the latter’s cooperation in gathering testimonies;

Third, the ROK government clearly opposed the Japanese side paying lump sums to sexual slavery victims under the name of atonement money through the Asian Fund for Women while turning a blind eye to the demand by the majority of victims for a sincere apology and acknowledgment of Japan’s responsibility. The ROK government issued the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Statement conveying such position on January 11, 1997; and,

Fourth, the ROK government’s position remains unchanged that the issue of victims of Japan’s military sexual enslavement was not resolved under the ROK-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement concluded in 1965.

4. The ROK government will separately and clearly express its view and position on the detailed results of the review announced by the Japanese side and, together with the international community, take appropriate actions.

5. Over the past two decades, the international community, including UN Special Rapporteurs and the US Congress, called on the Japanese government to acknowledge its responsibility over the issue of sexual slavery victims and to take necessary measures accordingly. Instead of doing so, the Japanese government has reopened the painful wounds of the victims on the pretext of conducting the so-called review. The Japanese government should be well aware that the international community including the United Nations will never tolerate such actions by Japan.

6. The ROK government brings renewed attention to the Abe Cabinet’s vow to uphold the Kono Statement. In addition, it urges the Japanese government to clearly acknowledge its responsibility over the issue of victims of Japan’s military sexual enslavement and present as soon as possible a solution to the issue that is acceptable to the victims, based on sincere remorse for its past wrongdoings. 


               Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation