Japan mulls revising past apology over 'comfort women'

Japan is considering revising its past official apology over 'comfort women', forced to work in its military brothels during World War Two.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday that the evidence given by the comfort women, the basis of the 1993 Kono Statement, 'is to be re-examined'. He added that the Japanese government 'will consider whether there can be any revisions.'

The Kono Statement, an internationally-admitted benchmark of Japan's position on the issue, was made by then chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono in 1993. It expressed Japan's 'sincere apologies and remorse' to those who suffered 'immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women'.

Suga's statement is the latest in a series of ludicrous remarks from senior officials supporting nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which are widely seen as Tokyo's denial of its wartime atrocities.

Abe has reportedly expressed his willingness to verify the Kono Statement, calling for a sincere discussion on the issue and not forgoing an opportunity to do so.