South Korean Court Orders Japan to Compensate WWII 'Comfort Women'

The ruling overturns a previous decision, citing 'sovereign immunity' should not apply in cases of illegal conduct.

A South Korean appellate court has ordered Japan to compensate 16 women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II, overturning a previous ruling that dismissed the case.
The court ruled that 'sovereign immunity' should not be respected in cases of illegal conduct, and ordered the payment of 200 million won ($154,000) to each of the plaintiffs.
Japan insists that a 1965 treaty, which restored diplomatic ties and included a reparations package, settled all claims relating to the colonial period.
Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa called the ruling 'contrary to international law and agreements between the two countries', and 'extremely regrettable and absolutely unacceptable'.
The ruling comes as the conservative South Korean government of President Yoon Suk Yeol has sought to improve ties with Tokyo to jointly confront growing military threats from North Korea.