January 9, 2021

South Korea's Seoul Central District Court on January 8 ordered the Japanese government to pay about 9.5 million yen each in compensation to 12 Korean victims of the so-called wartime "comfort women" system.

In response, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in the Prime Minister's Office said to the press crops, "This court ruling is absolutely unacceptable."

Later on the same day, asked by reporters for a comment on the Korean court ruling, Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Tamura Tomoko at a press conference held in the Diet building said, "Tokyo should negotiate with Seoul on the best way to deal with this issue."

Tamura said, "In light of international law, our party takes the stance of recognizing the individual right to claim compensation regarding the damage caused by Japan's past war of aggression. The relief of war victims is a fundamental principle in postwar measures. Since victims claim that their damage is still not compensated, Japan should not brush off their claim by insisting that 'the issue has already been settled'."

Past related article:
> Japan should repair relations with South Korea based on remorse over its colonial rule [January 3, 2019]