Abe refuses to make personal apology over sex slaves

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused Tuesday to deliver a private apology to former comfort women, Japanese media reports say.

In the Japanese Lower House, opposition legislator Rintaro Ogata of the Democratic Party asked Abe to say an apology and repentance for former sex slaves of the Japanese army during World War II.

Abe said the matter had been mentioned in a telephone conversation with Korean President Park Geun-hye.

Abe also said he believes the Korean government will move the statue symbolizing the former sex slaves from the front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

Abe’s remarks come after South Korea and Japan came to what was hailed as a landmark agreement Dec. 28.

In the agreement, Abe recognized the Imperial Army’s involvement in mobilizing Korean women as sex slaves and expressed remorse and apologized.

Japan will also put $8.1 million into a fund that Korea will administer.