South Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the Japanese criticism “very regrettable,” urging it to refrain from “excessively responding to” rulings by South Korea’s judiciary branch. It’s unlikely the two Japanese companies would follow the South Korean rulings, which are final and cannot be appealed. Lawyers for forced labourers for the Japanese steelmaker plan to take legal steps to seize its assets in South Korea, according to South Korean media reports. After its liberation from Japan, the Korean Peninsula was divided into U.S.-allied South Korea and Soviet-backed North Korea. Last week, South Korea announced a plan to dissolve a Japan-funded foundation aimed at compensating former sex slaves in South Korea.

Source: National Post November 29, 2018 03:11 UTC