Historical wound

S. Korea says deal over ‘comfort women’ faulty.

SEOUL: South Korea said a 2015 deal intended to end a festering dispute with Japan over Tokyo’s wartime sex slavery was faulty, reopening a historical wound as the two countries try to rein in North Korea.

Seoul and Tokyo signed the agreement to settle the hugely emotional and decades-long issue with a Japanese apology and payment of money to survivors.

Following an election pledge, the new government of President Moon Jae-in ordered a review of the unpopular deal which was struck by his now-jailed predecessor Park Geun-hye.

Yesterday, a task force published a report saying the deal was rushed and did not adequately seek the opinions of the women forced to work as sex slaves, often known by the euphemism “comfort women”.

“The agreement was finalised ... without adequately taking into account the opinions of victims in the process of negotiation,” the report said.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyungwha apologised for the deal, saying it “hurt” the victims and had “failed to reflect the victims’ views”.

Observers say any move by Seoul to abandon the deal could damage relations with Tokyo as the two countries face off against a nucle- ar-armed North Korea.

Kang said Seoul would “take into account any impact on South Korea-Japan ties as it carefully establishes its position” following the report’s release.

But she stopped short of saying whether Seoul might consider calling for renegotiation or walking away from the deal.

Tokyo urged Seoul to stick with the 2015 agreement. — AFP

— AFP Sitting in protest: People sitting around a statue of a ‘comfort woman’ (centre) during a demonstration commemorating the death of eight former sex slaves this year in Seoul.