Abe's WWII remarks likely to reflect view that 'comfort women' rights were violated

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's planned statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will likely reflect his view that the human rights of "comfort women" were violated, according to the policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The issue of comfort women, who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels before and during World War II, has long haunted Japan's ties with South Korea. Relations remain chilly even as the two nations near the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Monday.

"The prime minister has repeatedly said that the comfort women system was a violation of the women's human rights and that it was extremely regrettable," Tomomi Inada, a close Abe ally, said Wednesday.