(2nd LD) Moon says Japan has no right to claim sex slave issue settled

(ATTN: UPDATES with Japan's reaction in paras 10-11)

SEOUL, March 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in strongly urged Japan to sincerely reflect on its past wrongdoings Thursday, adding that the country has no right to claim the issue of its sexual slavery of Korean women is settled, despite the two countries' 2015 deal, which he called flawed.

"Also in resolving the issue of sexual slaves, the Japanese government, the perpetrator, must not say it is 'over'," the president said in a speech marking the anniversary of the 1919 March 1 Movement, in which tens of thousands of Koreans took to the streets to declare the country's independence from Japan's colonial rule.

The ceremony was held at Seodaemun Prison, where Japan's colonial government held and persecuted nearly 100,000 Korean independent fighters during its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.

Moon's remarks come amid Tokyo's repeated calls for the new South Korean president and his administration to honor the 2015 agreement made with South Korea's ousted administration. Under the pact, the former Park Geun-hye administration agreed to "finally and irreversibly" settle the issue in exchange for 1 billion yen (US$9 million).

Moon earlier declared the controversial agreement "seriously flawed."

"Inhumane violation of human rights during war cannot be covered by saying it is over," he said in the event marking the 99th anniversary of the March 1 movement.

"A true resolution only comes from remembering history and learning from that history, especially when it is the history of an unfortunate past," the chief executive added.

The president said what his country and its victims wanted to see from Japan was a sincere apology.

"I wish Japan will truly make up with the neighboring countries it oppressed and together walk the path of peaceful co-prosperity. I do not demand special treatment from Japan. I simply want Japan to move into the future with us based on its sincere reflection and apology," Moon said.

Japan immediately expressed regret regarding Moon's remarks.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a regular press briefing that the remarks were "extremely regrettable" and that the country had immediately filed a complaint with the South through diplomatic channels, according to media reports.

The South Korean leader then urged Japan to cease its territorial claim to South Korea's eastern-most island of Dokdo.

"Dokdo is the land that was first occupied in the process of Japan's invasion of Korea. It is our native territory," the president stressed.

"Japan denying this fact is the same as its refusal to reflect on its imperial invasion (of Korea)," he added.

The president said the South Korea's own efforts were what had won its independence from the Japanese colonization, and he called for efforts to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"While moving toward the 100th anniversary of independence, we must complete the construction of a joint community of peace, a joint economic community on the Korean Peninsula. We will have to make sure that the division (of the two Koreas) will no longer be an obstacle to our peace and prosperity," he said.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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