ROK protesters rally to mark memorial day for 'comfort women'

Protesters of the Republic of Korea (ROK) rallied outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Wednesday, demanding Japan acknowledge wartime aggression, apologize for its crimes, and compensate victims.

In 2012, the day of Aug. 14 was designated the International Memorial Day for "Comfort Women" by the 11th Asian Alliance Conference for "Comfort Women." The phase "comfort women" refer to victims forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War II (WWII).

In November 2017, the South Korean National Assembly passed legislation to designate the date as a national memorial day for "comfort women".

Organized by civic groups supporting "comfort women" victims, the demonstration also warned of a dangerous trend toward the revival of Japanese militarism.

The crowd chanted slogans and held signs reading "sincere apology," "legal compensation," "stop Japanese militarism," and "oppose the U.S.-South Korea-Japan military alliance," urging Japan to apologize for its WWII war crime.

"If war breaks out again, war crimes such as 'comfort women' and forced labor are very likely to recur. Ultimately, ordinary people often suffer the greatest harm and pain in war, so we must not stand idly by while Japan advances remilitarization," said Baek Hwiseon, a college student.

"Instead of reflecting on its war of aggression, the Japanese government is pushing forward with remilitarization, a move that threatens peace in Northeast Asia. It is extremely dangerous. No reflection and remilitarization, this is deeply worrying for those who yearn for peace," said Han Kyung-hee, chairwoman of the ROK Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

ROK protesters rally to mark memorial day for 'comfort women'

ROK protesters rally to mark memorial day for 'comfort women'

Massive torrents of floodwater were discharged at the Nanhe Dam in Gucheng County, central China's Hubei Province, on Wednesday, as record single-day rainfall brought river levels surging in the region.

As of 16:00 Wednesday, the single-day precipitation recorded at the Nanhe River valley reached 438.8 millimeters. The downpour brought by Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year, shattered historical records and caused upstream water levels to rise, forcing the opening of the gates to relieve pressure on the dam.

Footage captured by surveillance cameras at the Nanhe hydropower station that is run by CHN Energy's Hubei company showed the staggering scale of the ongoing floodwater discharge.

The largest flood peak passed the dam safely at 01:40 on Wednesday, reaching a flow of 5,240 cubic meters per second during the flood discharge.

At present, staff members at the hydropower station have remained stationed on the flood-control front line to closely track water inflows and to increase equipment patrols and inspections. The station will work to maintain stable power supply, while prioritizing dam safety and protecting the lives and property of the residents living in communities downstream.

Dam in central China's Hubei discharges floodwater following record rainfall