“We need to understand their place in history," says writer M. Evelina Galang. "We need to make sure it never happens again."

Regrettably, North Korea appears determined to exacerbate tensions and increase mistrust between two of America's most important allies in Asia.

Various expressions of regret and statements acknowledging the role of the Japanese military in operating the "comfort women" system during WWII have been made, but none have unconditionally acknowledged that Japan as a state was responsible for these violations.