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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a fresh official investigation of whether the Japanese military forced women from neighboring Asian nations into sex slavery during World War II, the Kyodo news agency reported Thursday. The investigation would examine if a 1993 statement acknowledging responsibility by the Imperial Army, the so-called Kono statement after chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono, went too far, Kyodo said.

Members of the Japanese government were quoted as saying the investigation is necessary to find new testimony and records now 14 years have passed since the last probe. If any re-investigation leads to a revision of the Kono statement, it is bound to anger Korea and China.

Meanwhile, a feature entitled “Denial Reopens Wounds of Japan’s Ex-Sex Slaves” in the New York Times on Wednesday recalls the stories of former Korean and Taiwanese “comfort women” and criticizes Japan for denying its past wrongdoings.

(englishnews@chosun.com )