Japan Responds To Compensation Obligations Of 12 South Korean Women Sex Slaves Of World War II

Illustration of woman rescued from Japanese soldiers by American soldiers on August 14, 1944 (Source; Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Seoul Central District Court, South Korea ordered the Japanese Government to provide compensation to 12 South Korean women who were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, Friday, January 8.

Launching Reuters, this decision received a strong response and Tokyo. At the same time, it could revive the diplomatic feud between Japan and South Korea.

The Japanese government says the issue has been resolved under the 1965 agreement which normalized diplomatic relations. And, through an agreement in 2015, the two countries according to the Japanese have also agreed to end the problem permanently.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato called the decision unacceptable, while urging the South Korean government to take appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo to file a protest against the decision.

Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo in Tokyo said he would try to prevent the ruling from having an unwanted impact on Japan-South Korea relations.

"I emphasize that it is very important for both sides to respond calmly and with control to resolve the issue," Nam told reporters after being summoned.

Based on the decision of the Seoul Central District Court, the Japanese Government had to pay each victim 100 million South Korean won.