The Japanese government strongly protested, saying it could not accept the Korean court's ruling to compensate victims of Japanese military comfort women.
"It is very regrettable that this ruling came out," Kato Katsunobu, Japanese Secretary of State, said, "I can never accept it."
"The Japanese government has repeatedly expressed its position that the case should be dismissed," Kato said at a press conference. "This ruling denies the principle of exemption from sovereignty under international law."
Minister Kato also said, "The issue of claims between Korea and Japan was all resolved through the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement in 1965, and in the case of the Japanese military comfort women issue, the final and irreversible solution was confirmed between the governments of the two countries in the agreement of the foreign ministers of Korea and Japan in 2015. "It's done."
Secretary Kato said Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Akiba Takeo called the Korean Ambassador to Japan Nam Kwan-pyo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the Japanese government's position and strongly protested.
"As a state, I will strongly demand that Korea take appropriate measures to correct violations of international law," said Minister Kato.
Mr. Kato added, "I have no intention of appealing the ruling that was defeated in the first trial because the Japanese government cannot admit to obey the Korean jurisdiction according to the principle of exemption from sovereignty."
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the ruling could never be admitted and that it is strongly demanding that the Korean government take appropriate action to correct violations of international law.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)