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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DEC. 28: Japan and South Korea reached an agreement Monday to resolve the issue of women who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels through creating a new fund, in a move that could finally put to rest a thorny dispute that has long hurt bilateral ties. The two Asian neighbors struck the deal to end their protracted dispute regarding so-called "comfort women" following talks between Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung Se, in Seoul. -- The Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Japan have intensively discussed the issue of comfort women between the ROK and Japan at bilateral meetings including the Director-General consultations. Based on the result of such discussions, I, on behalf of the Government of the ROK, state the following: (1) The Government of the ROK values the GOJ's announcement and efforts made by the Government of Japan in the lead-up to the issuance of the announcement and confirms, together with the GOJ, that the issue is resolved finally and irreversibly with this announcement, on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily implement the measures specified in 1. (2) above. The Government of the ROK will cooperate in the implementation of the GOJ's measures. (2) The Government of the ROK acknowledges the fact that the GOJ is concerned about the statue built in front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an appropriate manner through taking measures such as consulting with related organizations about possible ways of addressing this issue. (3) The Government of the ROK, together with the GOJ, will refrain from accusing or criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the United Nations, on the premise that the GOJ will steadily implement the measures it announced.