WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement in response to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s plans to compensate Koreans who were victims of forced labor conditions during World War II:
“I commend the South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s announced plan to create a government-administered fund to compensate Koreans subjected to forced labor under Japanese occupation during World War II. This is not only a positive step toward justice for victims, but a courageous effort to overcome painful historical disputes and advance practical cooperation with Japan.
“I am encouraged by the positive response from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and urge our partners to continue to work together to heal enduring wounds and foster a productive, cooperative relationship. As a stalwart supporter of our nations’ bilateral alliances and trilateral relationship, I am deeply committed to advancing a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous region in cooperation with our Northeast Asian allies.”
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