A recently erected statue of a man resembling Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is depicted on his knees and bowing to a girl symbolizing South Korean "comfort women" could further hurt bilateral relations, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga warned if media reports about the statues, titled "Everlasting Atonement," erected at a botanical garden in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are true, it would "decisively impact" ties between the countries.
"While we have yet to confirm this, it would be unacceptable under international courtesy," he told a news conference.