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"A South Korean court ordered the Japanese government on Friday to pay damages to a group of former 'comfort women' over their treatment at Japanese military brothels during World War II, marking the first such court ruling in South Korea." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210108/p2g/00m/0na/048000c
"Takeo Akiba, top bureaucrat at Japan's Foreign Ministry, summoned South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan Pyo to the ministry and told him the ruling is 'extremely regrettable' and 'utterly unacceptable,' according to the Japanese government." https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/01/131a29c7f880-breaking-news-japan-lodges-protest-with-s-korea-envoy-over-comfort-women-ruling.html
"The ruling is feared to aggravate bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo, which are badly frayed over wartime forced labor and Tokyo's export curbs."
"Another court ruling in a similar case is expected to come out next week." http://yna.kr/AEN20210108003351315
"Another court ruling in a similar case is expected to come out next week." http://yna.kr/AEN20210108003351315
"If the government does not appeal the district court ruling, it will be finalized. If Tokyo refuses to pay compensation, South Korean courts could order the seizure of Japanese government assets in South Korea." http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14091183
"Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for Japan to refrain from 'excessive responses' to this week's local court ruling ordering Tokyo to compensate victims of its wartime sexual slavery during phone talks with her Japanese counterpart on Saturday." http://yna.kr/AEN20210109003051320?input=tw
"In telephone talks, Motegi, who is in Brazil, told Kang that Japan does not accept the ruling, handed down Friday, saying that it violates international law, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210109/p2g/00m/0na/046000c
Asahi Shimbun editorial raises fear that the ruling will only worsen things, takes issue with approaches taken by both South Korea and Japan, and urges for a return to the bilateral accord the countries struck on this matter in 2015. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14093283
Mainichi Shimbun:
"The ruling has ignored Japan's efforts to date to address the comfort women issue."
"It is impermissible to unilaterally ignore a clear agreement that was made between the two countries, due to one country's domestic circumstances." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210109/p2a/00m/0na/022000c
"The ruling has ignored Japan's efforts to date to address the comfort women issue."
"It is impermissible to unilaterally ignore a clear agreement that was made between the two countries, due to one country's domestic circumstances." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210109/p2a/00m/0na/022000c
Yomiuri Shimbun also objects to the ruling from the perspectives of international law, the effect it will have on bilateral ties, the 2015 accord, and "efforts" made by the Japanese government to solve the "comfort women" issue.
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007054096
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007054096
JP PM Suga called the ruling "utterly unacceptable", and said "I strongly urge the South Korean government to correct this violation of international law".
But, as the Mainichi Shimbun points out, Moon Jae-In's administration holds no power over the court. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210108/p2g/00m/0na/071000c
But, as the Mainichi Shimbun points out, Moon Jae-In's administration holds no power over the court. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210108/p2g/00m/0na/071000c
Other points from above news article:
・Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato: Japan won't appeal, because that would put
under 
jurisdiction.
・CDP policy chief Kenta Izumi: ruling is unacceptable.
・DPFP policy chief Yasue Funayama: concerned over worsening ties.
・Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato: Japan won't appeal, because that would put
under jurisdiction. ・CDP policy chief Kenta Izumi: ruling is unacceptable.
・DPFP policy chief Yasue Funayama: concerned over worsening ties.
Korea Times editorial:
"Japan should humbly accept the ruling and do its best to heal the wounds of the victims."
"The [sovereign immunity] principle should not be applied to war crimes or crimes against humanity such as sex trafficking and slavery." https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210111000400315?section=search
"Japan should humbly accept the ruling and do its best to heal the wounds of the victims."
"The [sovereign immunity] principle should not be applied to war crimes or crimes against humanity such as sex trafficking and slavery." https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210111000400315?section=search
Korea Herald editorial emphasises the expected negative impact on bilateral ties, and urges both the Japanese and the South Korean government to make sincere and effective efforts to settle the issue once and for all. https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210112000500320?section=search
Peculiar excerpt from Sankei Shimbun editorial:
"Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato’s statement (...) that “the global community is biased toward South Korea” is correct. Japan is now the victim in this situation." https://japan-forward.com/editorial-moon-jae-ins-south-korea-must-stop-feigning-ignorance-of-the-comfort-women-agreement/
"Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato’s statement (...) that “the global community is biased toward South Korea” is correct. Japan is now the victim in this situation." https://japan-forward.com/editorial-moon-jae-ins-south-korea-must-stop-feigning-ignorance-of-the-comfort-women-agreement/
The Sankei Shimbun editorial also ends with rather questionable statements.
The Hankyoreh, meanwhile, praises the ruling and writes:
"It legally establishes where responsibility for this crime against humanity lies, and it opens a path toward real justice for the victims." http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/english_editorials/978306.html
"It legally establishes where responsibility for this crime against humanity lies, and it opens a path toward real justice for the victims." http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/english_editorials/978306.html
The Japanese Communist Party's reaction to the 'comfort women' ruling seems to differ quite a lot from the reactions from CDP and DPFP (mentioned earlier in thread).
Here are JCP Policy Commission Chair Tomoko Tamura's crystal clear words on the matter.
http://www.japan-press.co.jp/s/news/index.php?id=13377
Here are JCP Policy Commission Chair Tomoko Tamura's crystal clear words on the matter.
http://www.japan-press.co.jp/s/news/index.php?id=13377
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said during Diet session that he will demand appropriate response from South Korea to the ruling, as it has led to "an abnormal, totally unthinkable situation in terms of international law and the bilateral relationship." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210118/p2g/00m/0na/101000c
"Bewildered" President Moon Jae-In responded to the ruling on Jan. 18:
・ “We will continue talks with Japan to explore a solution that (the plaintiffs) can agree with”.
・He also said the government recognizes 2015 accord as official agreement. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14116301
President Moon Jae-In responded to the ruling on Jan. 18:・ “We will continue talks with Japan to explore a solution that (the plaintiffs) can agree with”.
・He also said the
government recognizes 2015 accord as official agreement. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14116301
Moon appears eager to mend ties with Japan, reportedly calling the 'comfort women' ruling "a little embarrassing", and emphasised his preference for seeking a diplomatic solution victims can agree with, instead of court-ordered seizures of Japanese assets. http://yna.kr/AEN20210118006452325?input=tw
The Dokdo/Takeshima dispute was also brought back to the forefront by Motegi in the January 18 Diet session, as he said it inherently belongs to Japan.
Foreign ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam responded likewise by insisting the islands belong to South Korea.
Foreign ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam responded likewise by insisting the islands belong to South Korea.
