President calls for change in Pyongyang  and compliance with denuclearization pacts


President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday condemned Japan’s wartime sexual slavery as a “violation of universal human rights and historic justice.”

In an address marking the 67th Liberation Day, Lee repeated his call for Japan to sincerely address its atrocities as tensions continued to escalate between the two neighbors following his visit to Dokdo last week.

“The issue involving the mobilization of ‘comfort women’ by the imperial Japanese military goes beyond relations between Korea and Japan,” Lee said.

“It was a breach of women’s rights committed during wartime as well as a violation of universal human rights and historic justice. We urge the Japanese government to take responsible measures in this regard.”

It was the first time the president had characterized Japan’s sexual enslavement during its 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula as a broader human rights issue beyond the bilateral relationship.

During his March 1 Independence Movement Day speech this year, he stressed that the issue was a bilateral humanitarian issue that should promptly be addressed.

“President Lee recognized the sexual slavery as an issue concerning the entire human race. In this light, he clarified the need for Japan to take responsible steps,” Choe Geum-nak, senior presidential secretary for public relations, told reporters.

Lee has long stressed the urgency of the issue as the victims mostly in their late 80s pass away. Sixty are still alive. Four have died of old age so far this year.

Lee’s remarks came amid a diplomatic spat over Dokdo, which has been rekindled since Lee paid an unprecedented visit to the islets last Friday.

Further heightening tension between the two nations, Lee demanded on Tuesday that Japan’s Emperor Akihito apologize for his country’s colonial atrocities should he want to visit Korea.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said that his government protested Lee’s remarks through an official diplomatic channel.

Lee did not make any mention of Japan’s persistent claim to Dokdo, contrary to widespread anticipation of a strong statement on the issue. Analysts say that he might not feel the need to do so as he has already made his stance clear through his actions and words.

Meanwhile, Seoul officials criticized Jin Matsubara, the Japanese minister charged with dealing with the issue of Japanese kidnapped by North Korean agents, for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the day. Transport Minister Yuichiro Hata also planned to visit it later in the day.

“It is deeply regrettable. The visit by Japanese politicians is an irresponsible deed that does not care about sentiment of the public who were victimized by Japan’s past imperialism,” said a Seoul official on condition of anonymity.

The shrine honors Japan’s war dead, including class-A war criminals. The Democratic Party of Japan members have refrained from paying tribute to them in consideration of bilateral ties with neighboring states such as South Korea.

Concerning North Korea, Lee did not make any proposal during his Wednesday address, apparently thinking that it would be difficult to make any turnaround in inter-Korean ties with some eight months left until the end of his five-year term.

But he urged the North once again to change and reiterated Seoul’s willingness to help should it choose to renounce its nuclear ambitions.

“Pyongyang has also come to a situation where it has to look straight at reality and consider a transformation. We will carefully watch for the possible changes,” Lee said.

Lee also urged Pyongyang to abide by its past denuclearization agreements with South Korea as well as the international community.

“Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was agreed on between the South and North as well as at the Six-party Talks. It has to be strictly complied with as it also constitutes an international obligation under UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.

“On the basis of it, the South, along with the international community, is ready and willing to help the North.”

Lee also touched on the importance of a peaceful reunification as a means to advance national interests.

“The ultimate consummation of our liberation consists in national unification. National reunification will be the springboard of a truly greater Republic of Korea. On the one hand, the government will strive to open a viable path for coexistence and co-prosperity, and on the other hand, it will steadily prepare for unification.”

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)