TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday urged the South Korean government to propose an acceptable solution to the thorny issue of wartime labor.

He responded to South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s comment Monday that it is undesirable to sell assets seized from Japanese companies for cash to pay court-ordered compensation to plaintiffs in wartime labor lawsuits.

“We can’t evaluate his action because he just expressed a position,” Motegi told a press conference.

“In recent years, international promises have been broken by South Korea, and bilateral agreements have not been implemented,” Motegi said.

“I hope to see a concrete proposal from the South Korean side to resolve the pending issue,” he said.

JIJI Press