Japan Holds its Stance on Wartime Sexual Slavery Reparations

On Monday, the Japanese government maintained its position concerning wartime sexual slavery and deemed South Korean court orders demanding Japanese reparations as breaches of international law. This comes in light of criticism from U.N. investigators who accuse Japan of neglecting truth-seeking and reparations for the victims. On the other hand, South Korea, responding to the U.N. human rights rapporteurs, urged Japan to candidly confront their shared turbulent history. South Korea went on to point out that Japan’s noncompliance with court mandates has obstructed the victims from receiving their dues.

These declarations enhance the understanding of the persisting fundamental discord between the two U.S. allies in Asia on this particular issue. Despite putting a hold on their intermittent disagreements over historical wrongs in order to fortify bilateral relations, the disparities remain. Earlier this year, a team of U.N. investigators cast light on the alleged shortcomings of Japan, South Korea, and other nations — including China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Netherlands, and East Timor — countries where victims of sexual slavery hail from.

The investigators admonished these nations for their failings, stating that they did not ‘ensure access to truth, justice, remedy, and reparations for survivors.’ Each of the governments was allotted a 60-day window to respond. However, only Japan and South Korea’s responses have been published on the UN’s website until now.

The U.N. investigators urged Japan to tackle a variety of concerns, among them, allegations that its previous inquests and compensations in regards to sexual slavery were inadequate, that it continues to shirk state and legal responsibility, and the rejection to adhere to three South Korean court judgements between 2021 and 2025 which mandated compensation for victims.

In its defense, Japan re-asserted its long-held stance that all reparation issues with South Korea concerning victims of sexual slavery were resolved through previous arrangements. Notably, the 1965 treaty that normalized relations and a distinctive 2015 agreement designed to sort out their disagreements on this issue.

Japan contended that the recent Korean court orders infringe on the principle of state immunity in such litigations. It further admonished South Korea to ‘take appropriate measures to remedy its breaches of international law as a country.’ Japan firmly dismissed South Korean court orders directing the Tokyo government and Japanese companies to provide reparations to Korean victims of sexual slavery as well as wartime forced labor, another byproduct of Japan’s harsh colonial rule over Korea prior to the end of World War II.

Japan maintains that these rulings contravene its sovereign immunity and go against the 1965 treaty; however, South Korean courts argue that sovereign immunity does not exempt foreign nations from being held accountable for crimes against humanity or wrongful acts perpetrated on South Korean soil against its nationals.

In the wake of Japan’s rejection to comply with the court instructions, several South Korean experts and survivors have suggested Tokyo and Seoul should together refer their disputes concerning sexual slavery to the U.N.’s International Court of Justice. Nonetheless, no steps in this direction have been taken to date.

Historical records indicate that several tens of thousands of women throughout Asia, many of whom were Korean, were forcibly taken to frontline military brothels to serve the sexual needs of Japanese soldiers. Back in 2015 when the agreement was reached, out of the 239 women who registered with Seoul as victims, only 46 were still living. As of now, the tally stands at a mere six.

Japan has consistently expressed contrition over the wartime sexual slavery. Two decades ago, in 1995, it conducted a study into the practice and set up a fund, sourced from private donations, to provide compensation to victims in the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan. The fund was only operational until 2007, when it was discontinued.

Many South Koreans, however, view Tokyo’s initial statements and actions as insincere and deem that they fell short of accepting legal responsibility. This sentiment was further amplified by conservative leaders who subsequently dismissed or questioned Japan’s wartime history.

The contentious history led to strains in the relationship between South Korea and Japan over the course of the past few years. However, more recently, attempts to mend these ties have gained momentum.

The two nations are making concerted efforts to solidify their relationship while concurrently bolstering their mutual cooperation with the United States. The increasing regional challenges necessitate such collaborative approaches to ensure the harmony and safety of the region.

While it is yet to be seen how the aftermath of this historical issue will pan out, both South Korea and Japan have an opportunity to pave the way for a healthier partnership. By acknowledging historical realities and striving towards resolution and reparations, they can embark on a path of reconciliation and meaningful dialogue.

This issue and the discussions around it are not just specific to these two countries, but also serve as an example for the rest of the world about acknowledging historical conflicts, making reparations where necessary, and moving forward by promoting peace and understanding. It emphasizes the importance of truth and justice in building strong bilateral relationships.