A spokesman for the south Korean foreign ministry was busy patronizing the impudent stand of Japan before reporters on Jan. 12 that the Japanese chief executive made an apology through the then foreign minister when the "agreement" was made on Dec. 28 last year and said words of apology and reparation in a phone conversation with the "president".

Japan finally refused to admit the state and legal responsibility and apology for the past sexual slavery with such ambiguous words as the "army's involvement" and "keen feeling of responsibility" at the negotiations with the south Korean authorities.