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BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye says she hopes a three-way summit next month with China and Japan will help clear obstacles to better relations with Tokyo, and boost stability in Northeast Asia.
Speaking on a visit to Washington, Park also said she was open to a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but stressed the importance of progress on the issue of so-called "comfort women"- sex slaves forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels.
"The Korean people are keenly following this upcoming meeting. I would highlight the issue of 'comfort women' victims, which is a very important outstanding issue at the moment. Most of these comfort women victims are now in their 90s, and just this year alone we've seen nine pass away. We currently only have 47 remaining survivors, so literally we really don't have much time to deal with this issue, and make sure we bring closure to their pent up agony," she said.
Park and Abe have not held bilateral talks since taking office due to historical disputes, particularly over the issue of sex slaves. Park said the trilateral summit would be held in Seoul in early November, after a gap of three and a half years.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean presidential official as saying earlier on Thursday that more consultations were needed to allow a bilateral summit with Abe to take place.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
