Japan told to pay reparations to victims of wartime 'comfort women' system

A court in South Korea has ruled that Japan must compensate a group of women who were forcibly made to work in military brothels during World War Two. These 16 women, who were essentially kept as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers, had previously seen their case dismissed. They had filed a lawsuit in 2016, but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it citing sovereign immunity. However, the ruling has now been overturned by the Seoul High Court. The court stated that it recognizes South Korea's jurisdiction over the Japanese government because the women resided in the country and sought compensation for acts deemed illegal. The court believes that there is an international law that does not grant state immunity for illegal acts. One of the victims, 95-year-old activist Lee Yong-soo, expressed her gratitude and emotion following the ruling. It is estimated that over 200,000 women and girls were forced into prostitution to serve Japanese soldiers during World War Two, with many of them being Korean. Other victims hailed from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa criticized the ruling, calling it regrettable and unacceptable, and urged South Korea to address its breaches of international law promptly.