▲ Yohei Kono, former Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, in 2013
The administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reaffirmed its existing stance to uphold the "Kono Statement," which expresses apology and remorse regarding the issue of military sexual slavery victims, known as "comfort women."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the Japanese government spokesperson, stated in a press conference today (June 11), "The government's basic position regarding the Chief Cabinet Secretary statement of August 4, 1993, the so-called Kono Statement, is to uphold this statement."
The Kono Statement was issued by Yohei Kono, who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary at the time and later as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The statement acknowledges that the honor and dignity of many women were wounded under the involvement of the military regarding the comfort women issue, and it expresses heartfelt apologies and remorse to those who suffered deep wounds.
The Kono Statement was the first official acknowledgment by the Japanese government that the Japanese military was involved in the recruitment and transport of comfort women and that there was coercion in the process.
Since its announcement, there have been several attempts by right-wing factions to revise the statement, but it has remained the fundamental position of the Japanese government, and successive cabinets have generally upheld its spirit.
As former Speaker Kono passed away on the 8th, the significance of the Kono Statement and the Japanese government's position on it have drawn renewed attention.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.