MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez on Wednesday, May 15 reminded Japanese authorities to “be more circumspect in their public statements” on issues relating to the sufferings of World War II (WWII) victims.

Spokesman Hernandez’s comments came after a prominent Japanese politician made a statement that the so-called "comfort women" of WWII served a "necessary" role by keeping troops in check.

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who made the controversial statement, said soldiers living with the daily threat of death needed some way to let off steam that was provided by the comfort women system.

SHIZUOKA--Teenage pen pals a half century ago, a South Korean man and a Japanese woman never forgot each other and their postal friendship that developed at a time their two nations were enduring tense relations.

Kim Joong-suck, 66, who lives in Seoul, and Sumiyo Endo, 65, who resides in Shimizu Ward of Shizuoka city, met for the first time on May 13 when relations are again rocky between their two nations. But when the two finally greeted each other in front of JR Shimizu Station, there were only smiles. Kim showed Endo photos of a grandchild in elementary school. Endo told Kim that her first grandchild was born in November.