'Comfort Women' Court Ruling Upheld as Japan Declines to Appeal

Despite Japan's stance that the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty, South Korea continues efforts to restore the honor and dignity of the victims.

South Korea's court ruling in favor of 16 women forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels was confirmed by Japan's decision not to appeal.
Japan maintains that the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty that normalized diplomatic relations, and the two countries agreed to 'irreversibly' end the dispute in a 2015 deal.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa stated that Japan had no intention of appealing against the court ruling because Japan is not subject to South Korea's jurisdiction under international law.
South Korea's foreign ministry said it would continue efforts to recover the honor and dignity of 'comfort women' while seeking future-oriented cooperation with Japan.
Earlier this year, South Korean companies agreed to pay to resolve a dispute over forced labor under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation.