By Kim Hyo-jin
The National Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday that criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for not facing history squarely and calls on him to apologize for atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Lawmakers adopted the resolution unanimously with 238 votes cast during an extraordinary session.
The resolution denounces Abe for barely touching upon the issue of sexual slavery in his U.S. Congress speech on April 29.
Abe expressed remorse over the war and offered condolences for those who died. But he did not offer an unequivocal apology to victims of sexual slavery as critics have long demanded.
It warned that a series of moves by Abe could have a negative impact on Korea-Japan relations, citing his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where war criminals are among those commemorated, his attempt to revive self-defense forces, infringement of sovereignty over the Dokdo islets, and attempts to distort historical facts on textbooks.
The National Assembly also vowed to deal sternly with the Abe administration in cooperation with the United Nations, worldwide civic groups and other nations including the Netherlands, Australia and other countries in Asia that suffered from the Imperial Japanese army's wartime atrocities.
The National Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday that criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for not facing history squarely and calls on him to apologize for atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Lawmakers adopted the resolution unanimously with 238 votes cast during an extraordinary session.
The resolution denounces Abe for barely touching upon the issue of sexual slavery in his U.S. Congress speech on April 29.
Abe expressed remorse over the war and offered condolences for those who died. But he did not offer an unequivocal apology to victims of sexual slavery as critics have long demanded.
It warned that a series of moves by Abe could have a negative impact on Korea-Japan relations, citing his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where war criminals are among those commemorated, his attempt to revive self-defense forces, infringement of sovereignty over the Dokdo islets, and attempts to distort historical facts on textbooks.
The National Assembly also vowed to deal sternly with the Abe administration in cooperation with the United Nations, worldwide civic groups and other nations including the Netherlands, Australia and other countries in Asia that suffered from the Imperial Japanese army's wartime atrocities.
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