It was disclosed that the Japanese authorities recently decided to pay 99 yen to the victims of the "comfort women" for the Imperial Japanese Army under the name of compensating for the withdrawal of welfare annuity, greatly infuriating and stunning public circles, the statement noted, and went on:

It is something resentful that the lawsuit raised by the victims in demand of the payment of the allowance was handled eleven years later, but it was more intolerable that the Japanese authorities so brazen-facedly insulted them by proposing the payment of so petty amount of money to them.

Japan should admit as early as possible the crimes it committed in the past and make reparation for them without delay.

Japan should immediately apologize for its recent insult to the victims, in particular, and take steps to make reparation for the mental and physical pain inflicted upon them and restore their honor, the statement urged.

The victims and members of civic and public organizations representing different circles held a press conference in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul at which they demanded the Japanese authorities apologize for trifling them again and declared they would not accept the above-mentioned payment.