Will pay up to settle labour dispute with Japan, says South Korea

Forced work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation: The move presents a unified front against China and North Korea

South Korea said on Monday that its companies would compensate people forced to work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation, seeking to end a dispute that has undercut US-led efforts to present a unified front against China and North Korea.

The proposal was welcomed in Tokyo but faced an immediate backlash from some victims and from South Korea's main opposition party, who accused the government of capitulating to Japan. US President Joe Biden, whose administration has pressed its two allies to reconcile, hailed the announcement as “groundbreaking”.

A Japanese government source close to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters the United States had been