South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Japan's leaders on Tuesday to be bold and take steps to resolve long-standing disagreements on the issues of wartime forced labor as well as "comfort women," who were forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels.
"It is necessary for Japanese leaders to take a courageous attitude" in resolving these issues, Moon said in a speech on National Liberation Day, marking the 72nd anniversary of the end of Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.
It is rare for South Korean presidents publicly to address the issue of forced labor, which hasn't been raised in recent years. Moon made his first speech at the annual ceremony since he took office in May.