Korea flatly rejects Japan PM's demand for Lee's apology

Korea flatly rejected Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's demand Thursday that President Lee Myung-bak apologize for his remarks about Japan's emperor.

"We don't feel the need to respond to the nonsensical argument," a presidential official said.

Earlier Thursday, Noda told a parliamentary committee meeting that Lee should "apologize and retract" his remarks that Japan's Emperor Akihito should apologize for the country's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea if he wishes to visit Korea.

Noda called Lee's remarks "fairly deviating from common sense." (Yonhap)