Japan, S. Korea hold talks over comfort women issue

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak held talks on Sunday in Geihinkan Kyoto, focusing on the issue of wartime "comfort women".

"To maintain the peace and harmony of the region, solving the problems which have plagued relations between the two countries should be our prior consideration," Lee Myung-bak said. Lee also urged the Japanese government to sincerely respect Korea's call.

"According to Japan's law, the 'comfort women' issue has been settled," Yoshihiko Noda said in return, "We will try hard to make more effort on considering the question from a humanitarian perspective."

Last Wednesday, a statue representing the "comfort women" was placed in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, which triggered Japanese protest. Noda said he feels very sorry about that and hopes the South Korean government to remove it as soon as possible.

Lee's trip comes at a delicate time when there have been growing calls in South Korea to address the issue of compensation for the "comfort women" during the World War II.