This article traces the historical trajectory of the "comfort women" issue from Japan's 1993 Kono Statement to the 2015 South Korea–Japan agreement and beyond.
I. The Kono Statement (1993): In August 1993, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono issued a statement acknowledging that the Japanese military had been involved in establishing and managing "comfort stations" and that women's honor and dignity had been violated. The statement marked an official acknowledgment, though its implementation has remained contested. (Sources: public records; CIIS research)
II. Subsequent developments: In December 2015, South Korea and Japan reached an agreement on the "comfort women" issue, which included a Japanese government apology and a fund for victims. The agreement was criticized by many victims and civic groups, and its implementation was later re-examined by the South Korean government. (Sources: public reports)
III. The trajectory: From the Kono Statement to the 2015 agreement and beyond, the "comfort women" issue has evolved through shifting official positions, public memory, and continued advocacy by survivors and civic organizations. The historical record remains the foundation for understanding this issue.
(Sources: public records; CIIS research; public reports)