South Korea said it will compensate laborers who were forced to work for Japanese companies during colonization in the first half of the 20th century, a landmark move toward resolving a longtime dispute between the U.S. allies.
Japan maintains that the forced labor issue was settled in 1965, when the two countries restored diplomatic relations through a treaty and Japan paid $500 million in grants and loans to South Korea to settle “completely and finally” claims stemming from its occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
“I hope that this is a window of opportunity to forge a new path in history. And I think this is our last chance,” Park said during a news conference Monday.In response to a question about the lack of Japanese participation in the resolution for South Korean victims, Park said: “I think the water cup is more than half full. And I expect that the water cup will be filled more in the future with Japan’s sincere response.
Since Yoon took office last May, South Korean and Japanese diplomats have held meetings in an effort to normalize routine conversations and trips and to seek a breakthrough.
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