Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The Korean Committee on Measures for the Sexual Slavery for Japanese Army and Drafting Victims recently obtained the testimonies made by a Japanese woman to prove the sexual slavery of the Imperial Japanese Army.

The Japanese woman called Sumie Nakamura is 92 years old. She had lived in Korea since her birth before its liberation. She returned home as Japan was defeated. She said that she had witnessed the operation of a "comfort station" by the Japanese army in then Kyonghung-myon, Kyonghung County of North Hamgyong Province.

On the basis of her testimonies, the Korean Committee on Measures for the Sexual Slavery for Japanese Army and Drafting Victims has made a field survey of the area of Sonbong in Rason City since last year.

As it confirmed the sexual slavery committed by the Japanese army there, the committee released a survey report to shed light on the crimes on August 14.

The report dealt with the situation of the troops of the Japanese army occupying Kyonghung County before the liberation of Korea.

It said:

In the 1920s Kyonghung County, a small mountainous county with the population of only 6 000, was regarded as a place of strategic importance in border guard as it was bordering China and Russia.

The border guards of the 76th regiment of the Ranam 19th Division of the Japanese Army were newly reorganized in 1937, according to the "guidelines for modifying the formation of border guards." The border guards were headquartered in Kyonghung County and deployed its units in various places.

Such situation provided full conditions for the earlier appearance of a "comfort station" for the Japanese army in Kyonghung County.

The existence of the "comfort station" for the Japanese army which had been installed in Wonjon-dong, Songbong District of Rason City was confirmed in the course of a field survey of it.

The building of the "comfort station" which was built likely in the mid or the latter half 1930s was a one-storied brick house surrounded by a high fence. It was situated on a mound in the middle of the then village.

17 to 20 years old girls had been brought to the "comfort station" from the southern region and they were almost kept in confinement.

Sumie Nakamura also testified to the fact that a medical officer of the Japanese army frequently visited it to examine the girls for venereal diseases.

The results of a field survey confirmed that the building remembered by Sumie Nakamura and the "comfort station" talked about by citizens there were the same building.

The Wonjong-dong "comfort station" was built exclusively for the Kyonghung border guards under the Ranam 19th Division and the military police stationed in Kyonghung County at that time.

It was the "comfort station" for the Japanese army troops mobilized for the "punitive operations" against the anti-Japanese guerillas active in the northeast region of China and for other troops of the Japanese army passing by for continental advance.
The composition of the inhabitants in Wonjong-dong at that time also proves that the "comfort station" was for the exclusive use by the army.
The majority of its inhabitants were poor tenant farmers. Except them, there were only the Japanese military police and guards.
It is utterly unthinkable that a brothel was installed for the poor peasants who barely eked out their living.
The "comfort station" was completely shut out from outside and the women there were almost in the state of confinement.
The high fence surrounding the "comfort station" was to hide the visits by Japanese soldiers from civilians, and the reason why the women there kept their southern accent was that they were kept in confinement at the station, being treated by Japanese soldiers as playthings only.
The most explicit reason why the "comfort station" in Wonjong-dong was the one for the exclusive use by the Japanese army is that the women were regularly examined by a medical officer of the Japanese army.
Except it, "comfort stations" for the exclusive use by the Japanese army and those who had fallen victim to the sexual slavery were found in various places including Chongjin City in North Hamgyong Province. This is also a clear proof that the Wonjong-dong "comfort station" was the one of the "comfort stations" operated exclusively for the Japanese troops under the Ranam 19th Division.
The Japanese reactionaries are employing all sorts of base tricks to put under the carpet the past crimes eternally but the Korean people will surely force them to take the responsibility for redeeming the past and pay dearly for the misfortune, pain, disgrace and damages the Korean nation suffered due to Japan.