Monument to WWII 'comfort women'

Remembering the past A group of performers beating the traditional Korean drums at the opening of the Comfort Women Memorial Peace Garden. - AFP

FAIRFAX: A suburb of the US capital dedicated a monument to World War II sex slaves in the latest local victory by Korean Americans in historical disputes with Japan.

After a campaign and fundraising by Korean American activists, the government centre of Fairfax County, Virginia, unveiled twin sculptures of butterflies and a plaque in honour of so-called “comfort women” – the up to 200,000 women from Korea and elsewhere forced into brothels for imperial Japan’s soldiers.