The White House praised South Korea and Japan Monday for reaching an agreement to settle the long-standing issue of “comfort women” who were forced to work in Japanese brothels during World War II.
National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice congratulated Tokyo and Seoul “for having the courage and vision to forge a lasting settlement to this difficult issue.”
“We support this agreement and its full implementation, and believe this comprehensive resolution is an important gesture of healing and reconciliation that should be welcomed by the international community,” Ms. Rice said.
Japan has apologized and will pay about $8.3 million — the amount South Korea requested — to a fund for the victims. Only 46 former “comfort women” are still alive in South Korea.
The issue has cause strained relations between the two U.S. allies for decades.
The White House said the U.S. looks forward “to deepening our work with both nations on a wide range of regional and global issues, on the basis of mutual interests and shared values, as well as to advancing trilateral security cooperation.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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