GS (JK) 31: Letter to the Chairman from the

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

 

 

I am writing to you with reference to the Foreign Affairs Committee Report entitled "Global Security: Japan and Korea" published in November 2008.

 

I would like to congratulate you on a thorough report. However, I would also like to draw your attention to paragraph 48 of the report regarding the matter of "Comfort Women" and the line: "At government-to-government level, Japan and South Korea regard the "Comfort Women" issue as being settled."

 

I would like to let you know that this is not consistent with the position of the Government of Korea. The Korean "Comfort Women" issue has not been resolved between the Republic of Korea and Japan and Japan's legal responsibilities remain unsettled. It is also our view that the "Comfort Women" issue has not been covered by the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Japan which was concluded in 1965 whereby the two countries established diplomatic relations.

 

I look forward to receiving a response from you on this matter.

 

 

HE Chun Yung-woo

 

20 March 2009