Political watchers here said that Abe's stipulation was not mentioned as part of a joint announcement made by both sides on Monday, with the South Korean side saying that it will take appropriate measures to solve the impasse.
In a broader sense, Japan still faces the question how it plans to restore the honor and dignity of comfort women from other countries who were similarly brutalized by Japan during the war.
Tens of thousands of women aside from Koreans - those from China, China's Taiwan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Netherlands and Australia, were also forced to service Japanese soldiers in wartime sex camps.
Another outstanding issue, often forgotten here, is the fact that the Imperial Japanese Army also forced its own nationals to work in some of its heinous military brothels.
