Trump Defends Japan on 'Comfort Women' Issue, Labels South Korea 'Obsessed' at 2025 US-ROK Summit

During the U.S.-ROK summit held on August 25, 2025, it was revealed that President Donald Trump addressed the "comfort women" issue, expressing his view that South Korea was "obsessed" with the problem and defending Japan's position.

During the summit, Trump acknowledged the complexity of the comfort women issue, stating, "Over the decades, I thought it had been resolved several times, but there are multiple layers to the problem." He then pointed out, "It was a very big problem for South Korea, not for Japan." He further added, "Japan wants to move forward. But South Korea was very obsessed with that problem," indicating his view that Seoul's stance was an obstacle to improving Japan-South Korea relations.

Trump also repeatedly offered favorable assessments of Japan, emphasizing, "The Japanese are wonderful people, and I think Japan is an excellent country." He also praised the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling him "a great man. A great friend." These remarks suggest that the U.S. showed understanding for Japan's position in the ongoing Japan-South Korea dispute over the comfort women issue.

Regarding the comfort women issue, an agreement was reached between the Japanese and South Korean governments in 2015, declaring it "finally and irreversibly resolved." However, South Korea continues to raise claims regarding this issue. On social media, touching upon this Japan-South Korea agreement, criticisms against South Korea have surfaced, such as "Since it was finally and irreversibly resolved, no matter who the president is, no one should deal with South Korea" and "A country that cannot keep its promises."

Indeed, even in 2025, voices regarding the comfort women issue continue to be raised across Asia, with some acknowledging that the problem has not been resolved, as exemplified by the South Korean President stating, "It's not over yet." In the Philippines, victims' families are still expressing their suffering, and in China, related historical records have been published, indicating that the historical aspect of the issue remains prominent.

In response to Trump's remarks, numerous Japanese social media users voiced approval, with comments such as "Trump is truly sensible" and "He said what Japan couldn't say." There were also harsh criticisms of South Korea's stance, including remarks like "South Korea only focused on comfort women as a means to demand money" and "It's impossible as long as anti-Japan education exists." Some also pointed out the possibility that Japanese media might not report certain parts of Trump's statement (specifically the part about South Korea's obsession).

Trump's latest comments have once again highlighted international, particularly U.S., perspectives on historical issues between Japan and South Korea, drawing attention to the future trajectory of relations between the two countries.

The context

The "comfort women" issue refers to the women and girls, primarily from Korea, China, and the Philippines, who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. While Japan officially apologized and established a fund for victims in a 2015 agreement with South Korea, declaring the issue "finally and irreversibly resolved," many victims and activist groups in South Korea rejected this agreement, arguing it lacked genuine repentance and was made without their consent. Consequently, the issue remains a highly sensitive and contentious point in Japan-South Korea relations, frequently resurfacing in political discourse and fueling nationalist sentiment in both countries. The United States, as an ally to both nations, often seeks to encourage reconciliation and stability in the region while navigating these complex historical disputes.