Trump Reminds South Korean President About Country’s Sex Slave History With The Japanese

During an Oval Office Meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump brought up a painful subject from the nation’s past to illustrate why South Korea doesn’t get along with its neighbor, Japan.

“Japan is a great ally of us. And I had a little bit of a hard time getting your two together because you’re still thinking about Comfort Women, right? Comfort Women! That’s all they wanted to talk about was Comfort Women. And I thought that was settled a few times over the decades.”

“Comfort Women” was the euphemism given to Korean women and girls forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II. A statue memorializing the victims was erected in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul in 2011 — which caused major diplomatic tensions between the two nations. “The Statue of Peace” remains standing, despite Japan’s demands that it be removed.

Trump continued, “Perhaps I’m wrong in saying it. Perhaps this isn’t right, but the whole issue of the women, Comfort Women, very specifically. We had talked, and it was a very big problem for Korea. Not for Japan. Japan, they wanted to get — they want to get on, but Korea was very stuck on that, you understand?” he asked President Lee.

“I don’t know. Perhaps you would like to answer. It’s a good question. It was hard getting Japan and Korea together because of what took place a long time ago. But Japan wants to do it. Korea was a little bit more tenuous.”

President Lee answered, “When I visited Japan and met with Prime Minister Ishiba, I realize many of the obstacles that existed between our two countries have now been removed.”

“During my term,” Trump interjected. “That’s true. We removed them during my term. There was an overlay, a little bit, but we removed many of those obstacles.”

Watch the clip above via Fox News.