Japan conveys concern over Tillerson statement on 'comfort women'

I should just simply say "its an issue for Japan & South Korea to sort out"

Nothing to be gained by the U.S getting involved and everything to lose.

Sorry Tillerson, its got nothing to do with you, stop trying to put the cat amongst the pigeons and butt out of it!

Sorry Tillerson, its got nothing to do with you

Korea and Japan are key US allies in the region. Both rely on and are counting on the US for protection. The US has every right to try and sort out the mess. Japan and Korea obviously aren't mature enough to let it go.

simon g,

The US has every right to try and sort out the mess. Japan and Korea obviously aren't mature enough to let it go.

And the US is?

Tillerson is simply telling it as it is.

No fake news, no fake flavoring, no sugar coated fakery and most importantly no whitewashing of history!

Attaboy Rex!

For goodness' sake, ENOUGH ! It's 2018 and it's time to move on and concentrate on today's more pressing issues !!!!!

The US secretary of state is the 3rd in line of the Presidency and not obligated to face censorship especially from foreign governments before making statements. As America is a FREE country citizens can voice or write their opinions without fear of reprisals !

Tillerson tell as it is? His boss might not. be ready to make two Asian Countries as US territory yet US has. to take care of Puerto Rico first.

The US has every right to try and sort out the mess.

It is US that is creating the mess, division, and controls and sells weapons.

Japan and Korea obviously aren't mature enough to let it go.

Acturally when US is involved in Japan-SK relation, it always get worse.

"Tokyo has told Washington that Tillerson's words could give the impression that the U.S. government has expressed understanding of South Korea's stance. The U.S. side replied that it will take note of Japan's position, the sources said."

The entire world understand's the stance of South Korea and those of the other victims of Japan's atrocities, NO ONE in their right mind understands Japan's, nor should they.

tinawatanabe: "Acturally when US is involved in Japan-SK relation, it always get worse."

For Japan -- because they can't blame SK for everything and demand the world forget what happened quite so easily when the US is involved, and Japan has to once again demand yet another nation forget history and accept Japan's made up version.

I have said many times the US dominates Japan. The more animosity the US creates the more arms it sells. When will Abe tell his US masters that US bases are not welcomed on Japanese soil? When will the Japanese people demand that their government exert Japanese sovereignty, after all the people pay the politicians wages and expenses?

Paul Martin: The US secretary of state is the 3rd in line of the Presidency and not obligated to face censorship especially from foreign governments before making statements.

No, he’s not. If something were to happen to the President, the US Secretary of State would be fourth in the line of succession. It is 1) Vice President, 2) Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3) President pro tempore of the Senate and 4) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

If the comfort women issue destroys your fellow unity on North Korea, Japan. Then I would say that you have a real diplomatic challenge, Japan! You threatening to "cloude" the unity on North Korea if USA does not comply with your wishes is just utterly irresponsible!

There's more at stake in this world at this moment than past glory and honor, Japan! Take a chill-pill and start being more future oriented, not only thinking about restoring lost glory and pride by revising the history!

As America is a FREE country citizens can voice or write their opinions without fear of reprisals !

Actually America is not a free country nor an independent country. 

Tilerson said this because he was made to say this.  He had to say this before Olympics openning ceremony when Abe visits SK and make Abe apology again, then Japan-SK Agreement becomes practically revoked, then Japan-SK feud continues...

@MattHartwell

Nothing to be gained by the U.S getting involved and everything to lose.

The US national security is at stake. 

For example, the current US missile defense system architecture is that the THAAD radar deployed in Korea detects Chinese or NK ICBM launches, and SM-3 interceptors deployed in Japan attempts first interception. 

Korea has currently forbidden the US from sending its THAAD radar data to Japan in order to guarantee that Japan is not able to intercept Korea's ballistic missiles, so the first line SM-3 defense doesn't work, or at least the interception probability is greatly reduced if the system has to rely on its own radar for incoming missile search.

The workaround is that the US CAN send the Korea deployed THAAD radar data to its own AEGIS destroyers deployed in the East Sea, but a AEGIS destroyer based missile defense has availability problem as this would commit four destroyers to missile defense role all year around.

So it is of critical US national interest that Korea and Japan get along.

@rlperez@hotmail.com.au

When will Abe tell his US masters that US bases are not welcomed on Japanese soil?

US bases are welcome on Japanese soil. Without them, Japan would be going to war with China and Korea within 5 years.

"The entire world understand's the stance of South Korea and those of the other victims of Japan's atrocities, NO ONE in their right mind understands Japan's, nor should they."

Sure, if "the entire world" means some people in Korea, the autocrats in Beijing, the odd lot...and, of course, yourself who's really got to do something with his life other than rant in here.

The rest of the world is more concerned with recent issues...

@G.MAL.O.Q

Sure, if "the entire world" means some people in Korea, the autocrats in Beijing,

Don't forget to add following list of people

US State Secretary Rex Tillerson

The people of Philippines.

Talking about a government of losers. Trump administration has no tact and to tell it like it is, they are full of crap.

Matt: Nothing to be gained by the U.S getting involved and everything to lose.

Very true. Tillerson tried to make a bland diplomatic statement on the matter not realizing that Japan considers the matter closed. Unfortunately for South Korea, they made a final accounting of the issue under a previous administration. The sad thing is that the current South Korean government is withholding compensation from the old and dying population of victims. That’s just cruelty all just to keep the issue forever alive as a political football.

tinawatanabe: "Actually America is not a free country nor an independent country."

You have no idea what you're talking about. If you want to say Tillerson is not free to say what he pleases, that's one thing -- although given that he has not denied calling the President an F-moron, I'd say he's a lot more free than you think -- but if the US is not free, who's controlling them?

G.MAL.O.Q: "Sure, if "the entire world" means some people in Korea, the autocrats in Beijing, the odd lot...and, of course, yourself who's really got to do something with his life other than rant in here."

So what does that say if you're on here replying? In any case, no one sides with Japan on the sex slave issue, except Japan, and maybe wannabes whom the ultra-right denialists would thank and call lesser people anyway. No one. I think Samit Basu gave a list of a few others, but he forgot everyone else when he posted.

"The rest of the world is more concerned with recent issues..."

One of those being reunification of the two Koreas, or at least, NK being less aggressive. How you can side with Japan on this when Abe wants to go over there and bring up the issue at a time when the two Koreas are joining as one team at the Olympics -- a time meant to be about the world coming together for sports, not to derail things with bilateral issues -- is really the sign of someone who needs to do something with his or her life, or at least get their priorities in order. Japan trying to save a face long gone on this issue is disgusting, and Tillerson is correct that Japan and SK can solve this thing; that starts with Abe not coming over with the intent of bringing up the issue.

@Wolfpack

Very true.

Very wong

Tillerson tried to make a bland diplomatic statement on the matter not realizing that Japan considers the matter closed. 

The US State Department and Korea do not consider the matter closed, Tillerson affirmed that personally.

Unfortunately for South Korea, they made a final accounting of the issue under a previous administration.

Well, the accounting was wrong so the book has reopened.

The US State Department and Korea do not consider the matter closed, Tillerson affirmed that personally.

If he affirmed it personally, then that doesn't represent the US government. Show me a link where the US does not deem the 2015 agreement to be settled.

Give it up, Japan. The rest of the world is fully aware of your guilt. Your whitewash and revisionist nonsense is exactly that - nonsense. Face it - you have neither honour or dignity.... you are a serial liar, a laughing-stock, and worse. GFY.

Washington couldn't care less about leashed ally Japan's concerns or the confort women issue. Tillerson is paying lip service to SK because Seoul now has leverage... It is called nuclear NK.

Many here are looking at it only at a Japanese perspective (which is understandable, but not necessarily the most reasonable).

Why assume things will get worse when the US agrees with Korea over Japan in this particular case? I'm pretty sure the Koreans are happy hearing this, so shouldn't that be a positive? Should it be generally good when truth is being spoken? Some apologists would rather deny it for the sake of flawed political righteousness.

But maybe you think that South Korea is just a junior partner in all of this, with regards to WW2 or even with the North Korea threat, and that's why you may think pandering to them is bad. But you see, that's your problem.

That's the problem with Japanese right-wingers in general:

-historical revisionism and whitewashing of their crimes that continue to create tensions in Asia

-the sense of superiority in Asia (second only to the US).

Some non-Japanese apologists are like this too, because it works in their favor politically, militarily, etc..

Japan Foreign Minister Kono should comment about the border wall issue between the US and Mexico and watch Americans go batpoo apoplectic.

I should just simply say "its an issue for Japan & South Korea to sort out"

The trouble is that in itself is taking sides. Japan and Korea previously signed a final settlement of the issue. Tillerson's words indicate the issue remains unresolved, i.e. supporting the newly changed Korean position.

No idea what Tillerson is talking about? There used to be some minor "issue "on SK prostitutes or whatever but that is long dead and everyone has moved on. There are no valid issues left from SK's side so Tillerson has once again shown he is a moron

@Mizuame

Tillerson's words indicate the issue remains unresolved

It is unresolved. Welcome to the real world.

i.e. supporting the newly changed Korean position.

The entire world including the UN and US State Department back Korean position.

There is not a single nation on earth that backs Japan.