MOSCOW (Sputnik) — South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Sunday called on Japan to admit its historical wrongdoings against Korean sex slaves, in an annual speech to mark the anniversary of an uprising against the Japanese rule of Korea in the 20th century.
Park called on the Japanese government to issue a formal apology to the so-called comfort women, as they are getting older.
"This year alone, two of the old women passed away with no healing of their sufferings. Time is running out to restore dignity to their lives," Park said in a televised speech, as quoted by The New York Times.
"As Germany and France overcame conflict and mutual enmity and became leaders in building a new Europe, it is time for South Korea and Japan to write a new history together," she added.
Park's speech marks the 96th anniversary of the uprising against Japan's occupation of Korea, which lasted from 1910 until 1945, when the Japanese Empire was defeated in World War II.