이 글에서는 일본군성노예문제와 관련된 국제교류 중 특히 남북교류에 중심을 두고 이 문제와 관련한 북측의 대응을 다루었다.
1991년을 전후하여 어려운 남북 교류, 특히 일본군성노예제문제가 지속적으로 가능하게 된 데에는 당시의 국내외 정세가 작동하고 있었다. 국제적으로 독일 통일 등 냉전체제가 완화되었고 남북의 유엔 동시가입이 성사되었다. 국내에선 대통령 직선제를 회복하고 민주주의 방향으로 들어섰다. 이와 동반하여 여성운동도 발전하여 성폭력문제를 사회적으로 논의할 수 있는 분위기가 되고 역사적인 문제로 일본군성노예제문제가 제기되었다. 한국의 생존피해자의 등장은 일제의 침략을 받았던 아시아지역의 피해자 커밍아웃으로 이어져 한일문제로 인식하였던 일본군성노예제문제에 대한 인식의 지평을 확장시켰다.
이 문제를 해결하기 위한 국제적 연대활동은 북측과도 함께 하였는데 <아시아의 평화와 여성의 역할 토론회>, <아시아연대회의>, <2000년일본군성노예전범여성국제법정> 등이다. 북측은 일본과의 국교수립과 다양한 국제적인 활동의 확장을 겨냥한 측면이 있어 남측과 일본의 NGO가 주도하던 일본군성노예제문제해결운동에 함께 하였다.
활동과정에서 남북간의 갈등도 있었다. <아시아의 평화와 여성의 역할〉서울 토론회에서 한국전쟁과 관련하여, 그리고 <2000년일본군성노예전범여성국제법정>에서는 독립운동의 정통성과 관련하여 의견대립이 있었다. 남북에게 있어 가장 깊은 상흔이며 큰 관점의 차이를 드러낸 주제임에 분명하였으나, 상호 한발씩 물러나 일본군성노예제문제라는 공동의 문제 해결을 위해 협조하였다이 과정에서 드러난 북측의 일본군성노예제를 보는 관점과 북측 <(조선)‘종군위안부’ 및 태평양전쟁 피해자 보상대책위원회> 등의 관련단체 변화도 분석하였다. 남측이 민족과 여성문제로 좀 더 강하게 인식하는데 비해 북측은 민족과 계급문제로 인식하는 차이가 있었다. 하지만 기본적으로는 일본제국주의에서 비롯된 반인도적 범죄이란 점, 나아가 일제시기를 점령기로 보고 전쟁범죄라는 인식도 남북이 공유하였다.
북측 관련단체의 변화도 확인되는데 일단 단체 명칭이 변하였다. 남측에서 제기한 용어를 일본군‘위안부’라는 용어를 수용하였다. 그리고 일본군성노예제와 관련한 남북 등의 교류에서 중심적으로 활동하였던 북측 인물들이 여성들이 증가하고 위 단체의 구성원 수가 증가하고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.
신뢰가 쌓이면, 첨예하게 대치되는 문제가 제기되더라도 대화를 통해 극복해 갈 수 있었음을 볼 수 있었다. 또 오래 분단된 남북관계의 팍팍함은 재일동포 등 매개자들이 있음으로써 좀더 유연하고 확장된 인식을 하게 되고 또 그 과정에서 민족동질성을 강화시킬 수 있었다.
This article mainly dealt with the exchange of South and North Korea concerning solving Japanese Military Sexual Slavery issue and North Korea's reaction in that process. This paper consists of three parts such as, 1. The background of South and North exchange in 1990's, 2. South and North exchange related to Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, 3. The reaction of the North in the related activities of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. Data used in this paper includes the documents produced from the exchange process and also the collection and analysis of oral statement of the activists and researchers and etc.
Changes in domestic and foreign affairs in the era of 1991 strongly contributed to the South and North exchange especially about the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. International changes were such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the easing of the cold war system, the reunification of the Germany and most above all, South and North joined the UN simultaneously, the long-cherished wish of both. Domestically, president direct election system was selected by the result of the movement for democracy and South Korea made a little step forward to democracy. Together with this change, awareness of women's problem boosted in the society and the social atmosphere became more open to discussing sexual violence problems. On behalf of this groundwork, Japanese Military Sexual Service issue was raised. The appearance of Korea's surviving victims led to coming-out of other victims of Japanese invasion in Asia and this made Japanese Military Sexual Service a present issue rather than historical issue just between Korea and Japan.
One of the many actions took to solve Japanese Military Sexual Slavery issue-how South and North together worked on international united activities. The united activities are such as, <Asia's Peace and Women's Role Debate> that began in 1991, <Asian Solidarity Conference for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan> that began in 1992, and <The Women's International War Crimes Tribunal 2000 For the Trial of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery>. North could accept the exchange with South easily due to following reasons. First, the main organization of the South was NGO which drew a certain line to Korean government. Second, in the most of South and North exchange, Japan and many other countries' NGO joined together. Lastly, the topic was regarding problems of human rights related to Japanese Imperialism which could be raised as a problem in the process of diplomatic relations with Japan. However, conflicts between South and North also existed in the process of the movement. In <Asia's Peace and Women's Role Debate> in Seoul, there was a conflict related to Korean War and in <Year 2000 Japanese Military Sexual Slavery War Criminal Female Law Court>, there was a conflict related to the traditional identity of independence movement. Despite the different position, they took a step back and cooperated to solve Japanese Military Sexual Slavery issue.
Chapter 4 is about analysis of North's point of view about Japanese Military Sexual Slavery issue. South acknowledges the issue more as about race and gender issue but North more as about race and class issue. However, South and North shared a common view on the fact that the crime was against humanity that came from Japanese Imperialism and that it was definitely a war crime because of Japanese occupation during its imperialism. In the midst of these processes, there was a change in North related organization. First, the name of the organization changed. South brought up a new term for Japanese Military Comfort Women and it was accepted and changed from <Korean Measure Committee on Compensation for “Comfort Women For Army” & Victims of Pacific War> to <DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to “Comfort Women” for the Japanese Army and Victims of Forcible Drafting> and “Korean Committee on Measures for Sexual Slavery for Imperial Japanese Army and Drafting Victims”. Moreover, it was found that North figures who mainly contributed in South and North exchange related to Japanese Military Sexual Slavery are continuously holding an important position and getting many duties, and the number of people in this organization is increasing.
The fact that despite sharply opposing conflicts, if trust is built, conflict can be overcome by conversation was seen in South and North relation. Since Japanese Military Comfort Women issue is not restricted to South and North but also related to Japan, South and North could work on this issue together and also could reinforce national homogeneity during the activity.