Pres. Lee: Japan`s sexual slavery violated human rights, justice

President Lee Myung-bak said Wednesday that Japan`s sexual slavery of Korean women in World War II violated "universal human rights and historic justice."

In his speech on the occasion of the country`s 67th Liberation Day marking Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule at Sejong Center in central Seoul, he said, "The comfort women issue goes beyond relations between Korea and Japan. It was a breach of women`s rights committed in wartime. We urge the Japanese government to take responsible measures."

"Japan is a close neighbor and a friend and an important partner that we should work with to open the future. However, the chain links tangled in the history of Korean-Japanese relations are hampering the march toward a better tomorrow in the Northeast Asian region as well as bilateral ties."

On North Korea, he said, "Both South and North Korea should stand on the basis of a normal relationship. Pyongyang now faces a situation in which it must look straight at reality and consider a change. We will carefully watch for possible changes."

"A politician has a fixed term but the duties of taking care of the economy and the public must continue," the president said, adding he will do his best to boost the economy and stabilize the livelihood of the working class until he leaves office.

ddr@donga.com