Japan turns deaf ear

A statue of a girl, representing Korean women who suffered as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II is dressed in hanbok, Korea’s traditional costume on Wednesday. Protesters are in the 1,116th week of a vigil held outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, urging the Tokyo government to apologize for forcing women into sexual slavery. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

The national flag of Japan raised above the Japanese Embassy in Seoul is seen behind the flag of the United Nations.

Protesters gather outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to participate in the weekly rally.

Kim Bok-dong, 88, one of 55 surviving former Korean sex slaves, listens to a speech during the weekly protest.

Tisha Mason, right, who visited Korea from a Christian missionary in the U.S., participates in the weekly protest, holding a sign calling on Japan to officially apologize for enforcing sex slavery.