Hata apologizes to S. Korea for Nagano's remarks

Hata apologizes to S. Korea for Nagano's remarks

SEOUL (Reuter): Japanese Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata yesterday apologized to South Korea's president for remarks by his disgraced former justice minister who denied Japan waged an aggressive war in Asia in the 1930s and 40s.

"Prime Minister Hata phoned President Kim Young-sam and expressed regrets and apology for Justice Minister (Shigeto) Nagano's remarks," a presidential spokesman said.

Kim asked Hata to prevent a repetition of such remarks by a Japanese official and said the two countries would further improve cooperation and friendship.

South Korea lodged strong protests against Nagano's remarks quoted by a Japanese daily, which claimed Japan was not a wartime aggressor and that the 1937 Rape of Nanjing, in which tens of thousands of Chinese civilians were murdered, was a historical fabrication.

Nagano, who resigned at the weekend over his remarks, also told Japan's Kyodo News Service that sex slaves, mostly Koreans, who were forced to serve the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, were "licensed prostitutes".

In Tokyo, Hata told both houses of parliament that the Imperial Army's actions had caused "unbearable suffering."

The head of Japan's first minority government in 39 years also pledged to draw up emergency plans to cope with any sudden worsening in the Korean crisis, caused by North Korea's refusal to open its nuclear sites to inspection.

New laws

But the speech did little to erase suspicions among the opposition that the nine-month-old ruling coalition is bent on expanding Japan's global role, particularly in the military realm, loosening the country's constitutional binds.

The ruling coalition has suggested new laws to allow Japan's greater peacekeeping role, including logistical support for U.S. forces in military action in Korea.

Nagano was forced to resign at the weekend and Hata used his first policy speech since he took office on April 28 to help ease the anger of Japan's neighbors.

"It is truly regrettable that such a situation arose," Hata said, referring to protests from China, South Korea and other Asian nations over Nagano.

"Japan's past actions, including aggression and colonial rule, caused unbearable suffering and sorrow for many people," he said.

"Japan's past actions have ... left great scars which remain even today in the hearts of the peoples of neighboring countries," Hata said. "The pain and anger of the peoples of neighboring countries caused by the recent remarks by a cabinet member shows this clearly."

The expression of regret, however, was seen somewhat restrained, compared with straightforward "apologies" offered by Hata's predecessor, Morihiro Hosokawa, after he took office in August. Hosokawa also became the first Japanese premier to acknowledge clearly that Japan had waged a "war of aggression."

In another development, Hata made a desperate appeal to parliament yesterday to save political reforms enacted this year but now in jeopardy because of the real threat of snap elections.

In his first policy speech, Hata urged a belligerent opposition to support his weak government long enough to set up a new electoral system, centerpiece of an anti-corruption reform package approved in January after five years of preparation.

"We cannot allow the steady flame of political reform to be extinguished," said an earnest-looking Hata. "I am determined to continue to pursue it as an issue of the highest priority."