South Korea: Tokyo sentenced for sexual slavery during WWII

This statue erected near the Japanese embassy in Seoul is a symbol of the victims of sexual slavery during World War II.

© AP / Ahn Young-joon

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

It is a heavy judgment with a resounding diplomatic impact.

This Friday, January 8, a South Korean court ruled that Tokyo should compensate victims of sexual slavery during World War II.

This is the first time that such a sanction has been pronounced.

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With our correspondent in Seoul,

Nicolas Rocca

It is an unprecedented decision, which tastes of victory, for the twelve women who had asked for redress in Tokyo.

The Seoul District Court ruled that the Japanese government should compensate each victim up to 100 million won, or almost 75,000 euros.

This is the first civilian dossier, on the very sensitive subject of those who are called " 

comfort women

 ", and who were the sex slaves of the Japanese army.

The question of compensation and recognition from Tokyo of this war crime, which would have affected up to 200,000 victims, divides the two neighbors.

Tokyo does not recognize the legitimacy of the tribunal

While the countries are officially allies in the face of the North Korean nuclear threat, Tokyo denies responsibility for its wartime abuses and refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the tribunal.

The Japanese government considers that a state cannot be tried by a foreign court.

On the contrary, the victims believe that this cannot apply to war crimes, or against humanity.

This decision has already provoked the reaction of the secretary general of the Japanese cabinet, who called the verdict unacceptable, asking Seoul for an appropriate response.

The same court will have a judgment to give next week on a similar case, this time concerning twenty women.

►Also listen: Big report - South Korea: the last fight of the sex slaves of the Imperial Japanese Army

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