Sex slave denial angers S Korea

South Korea says the truth must be upheld about comfort women

South Korea has criticised the Japanese prime minister for questioning whether women were forced to become sex slaves by Japan's army during World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sparked anger on Thursday by saying there was "no evidence to prove there was coercion".

South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said his remarks were "not helpful" and the truth must be faced.

Historians believe at least 200,000 women were forced to serve in Japanese army brothels during World War II.

A Japanese Cabinet spokesman appeared to play down Mr Abe's comments by saying the prime minister stood by a 1993 government apology for the use of so-called "comfort women".

But Mr Song said the Japanese leader's remarks were not helpful in efforts to build better relations between their two countries.

Revisionist moves

"There has been debate over the question of whether there was coercion," Mr Abe told journalists on Thursday.

"But the fact is, there was no evidence to prove there was coercion as initially suggested."

The US Congress is currently considering a resolution calling on Tokyo to "formally acknowledge, apologise and accept historical responsibility" for the comfort women.

An estimated 200,000 women were forced to become sex slaves

The draft text was debated by the House of Representatives last week, prompting criticism from Japan's foreign minister, who said it was "not based on objective facts".

Some Japanese conservative politicians have questioned the extent of the country's wartime atrocities.

A number are seeking to downgrade the government's 1993 acknowledgement that the Imperial Army set up and ran brothels for its troops during the war.

Compensation sought

The non-binding resolution before the US Congress seeks to reject the revisionists' moves.

Three former comfort women gave evidence at the US hearing, describing the rape and torture they endured at the hands of the Japanese soldiers.

HAVE YOUR SAY Abe's comments are thoughtless and it makes Japan's message inconsistent Takuya, Tokyo Send us your views

Many former comfort women - most of whom were from Korea and China - are still seeking compensation from the Japanese government for their experiences.

Tokyo did set up a compensation fund in 1995, but it relies on private donations rather than government money.