[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] On the 21st, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in response to reports that members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party issued a statement supporting the removal of the 'Statue of Peace' installed in Berlin, Germany, that "this does not help resolve the issue of Japanese military comfort women victims."
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Our government views any artificial removal of statues voluntarily installed by civilians in third countries for the purpose of memorializing and educating about the undeniable historical facts related to the Statue of Peace as an action that goes against the spirit of responsibility, remorse, and apology that Japan itself has acknowledged."
Earlier, the Japanese Sankei Shimbun reported that 82 members of the Liberal Democratic Party sent a statement supporting the removal of the Statue of Peace to the Mayor of Mitte District and the Chairperson of the Mitte District Council in Berlin on the 18th.
The Berlin Statue of Peace was installed last September by the Korea Association, a German civic group. When Japan pressured for its removal, Mitte District decided to remove the statue by October 14. However, after the Korea Association filed an injunction to suspend the removal order, Mitte District has postponed the removal, awaiting the court's decision.
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