Although former Japanese Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi and former Foreign Minister Kono Yohei had both issued statements in 1995 (the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II) acknowledging that women across Asia had been forced into sexual slavery, these apologies had been perceived by Korea and other countries affected by the issue to be personal statements and not official government apologies.
Encara que l'anterior primer ministre japonès, Murayama Tomiichi, i l'anterior ministre d'afers exteriors, Kono Yohei, fessin declaracions el 1995 (pel 50è aniversari del final de la Segona Guerra Mundial) reconeixent que dones de tota Àsia van ser forçades a ser esclaves sexuals, Corea i altres països afectats per aquest assumpte perceben que aquestes declaracions són personals i no disculpes oficials del govern.