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International relations

Tokyo and Seoul drift further as 'comfort women' foundation dies

Historical grievances haunt bilateral relations as 2015 agreement breaks down

Former South Korean "comfort women" attend an anti-Japan rally in March 2017. Many South Koreans think the 2015 agreement with Japan did not do enough for the surviving women.   © Reuters

SEOUL -- South Korea's decision to dissolve a foundation created to assist wartime "comfort women" essentially guts the 2015 deal with Japan to settle the issue, as bilateral relations deteriorate further over another historical issue.

"If international promises cannot be kept, country-to-country relations cannot be established," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo after Seoul announced the decision on Nov. 21.

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