日本首相為殖民朝鮮半島道歉
菅直人說，日本希望進一步改善同韓國的關係
日本為在戰爭期間佔領朝鮮半島再次向韓國道歉。
日本還承諾近期要歸還文物，包括日本從朝鮮古都拿走的文獻紀錄。
雖然這並非日本首次為此道歉，但是這說明日本在努力同韓國建立更密切的關係。
日本保守派政界人士一直不原意承認二戰期間日本犯下的暴行。
日本首相菅直人對兼併朝鮮表示「深深的懺悔」。100年前的8月日本佔領了朝鮮半島。
菅直人為日本在朝鮮的殖民統治所造成的巨大破壞和痛苦表示懊悔和真誠的道歉。
菅直人說，日本希望進一步改善同韓國的關係。日韓關係一直受日本在朝鮮的殖民歷史困擾。
日本首相道歉時正值日本兼併朝鮮半島一百週年，而8月15日則是韓國慶祝1945年解放的紀念日。
BBC在東京的記者羅蘭德·伯爾克說，在日本殖民時期，朝鮮人被迫上前線打仗，做奴工或被迫作軍妓。
自從1995年後歷任日本首相都為日本帝國時期的侵略做出過道歉。
不過日本的一些保守派政界人士一直拒絕承認日本在殖民和佔領期間犯下的暴行。
Japan apologizes to South Korea for decades of colonial rule
More than 50 years after Japan ended its Korean occupation at the close of World War II, many wounds have still not healed.
On the 100th anniversary Tuesday of Japan's annexation of the Korean peninsula, office worker Hwang Jung-won listened as Japan's prime minister apologized for his nation's role in decades of harsh colonial rule. But like many others here, she wasn't convinced of the sincerity of this latest mea-culpa.
"An apology is better than nothing, but if they are truly sorry, they should make compensations for all the victims during the colonization including comfort women," the 33-year-old said.
More than a half-century after Japan ended its 35-year occupation of Korea at the close of World War II, many wounds have still not healed. Many older Koreans still remember such indignities as being forced to change their names to Japanese, fight as soldiers and even work as prostitutes for the military – young girls who became known as comfort women.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to South Korean residents for his nation's transgressions all those generations ago. "For the enormous damage and suffering caused by this colonization, I would like to express once again our deep regret and sincere apology," Kan said in a statement endorsed by his cabinet.
Still residents like Kim Hyung-il wanted gestures over mere words. The prime minister's statement, many noted, did not mention Koreans forced into manual labor and sexual slavery.
"The Japanese government needs to show action, not just some words on a piece of paper," said Kim, a 73-year old retiree who was a young boy during the occupation.
On Tuesday, in a brief telephone conversation with Kan, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took note of the sincerity of the gesture, but called on South Korea's Asian neighbor to put the statement into action.
Presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung said that Lee asked Kan to cooperate on pending issues in a "wise and sincere manner."
Meanwhile, Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Kim Young-sun said: "We recognize Prime Minister Kan's statement that Japan wishes to frankly look back on its past mistakes and expect that the Japanese people to share this view."
Japan's Korean occupation came to a close with its surrender at the end of World War II. While Tokyo has in the past apologized for its past aggression against its Asian neighbors, Kan's statement on Tuesday specified South Korea. No mention was made of North Korea.
Kan added that Japan would return Korean cultural artifacts, including historical documents, it acquired during its rule.
Yet an editorial in the Korean-language Munhwa Ilbo newspaper called for Japan to take further action for its past.
"The statement is only half complete as it apologizes for the annexation against the will of the Korean people," the newspaper said, 'but fails to mention the illegality of the action."
Kim is a researcher in the Times' Seoul Bureau
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