SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that, from the standpoint of Japan-South Korea relations, it is undesirable to convert the assets seized from Japanese companies into cash in accordance with the ruling ordering these firms to pay compensation to former wartime requisitioned workers.
Speaking at his New Year's press conference, Moon stressed the importance of "finding a diplomatic solution before reaching the stage [of selling the assets for cash]" in the outstanding bilateral issue.
"I believe we can convince the plaintiffs and solve the problem," Moon added.
Regarding a ruling by the Seoul Central District Court on Jan. 8 that ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation to former so-called comfort women in South Korea, Moon said he is honestly confused with the addition of the ruling during Seoul's diplomatic efforts to resolve the wartime labor issue, among others. The South Korean president said he wants to hold discussions with the Japanese government.
It was the first time for Moon to mention the ruling related to the so-called comfort women. The South Korean court denied Japan had sovereign immunity -- the concept under international law that the acts of a state are not tried in the courts of another state -- in this case.
On the grounds of sovereign immunity, the Japanese government is not appealing the ruling, which will become final on Jan. 23.
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