TOKYO (Agencies via Xinhua) -- Seven South Korean women who were used as sex-slaves by the Japanese army during World War II each received $43,000 from a Japanese fund created to compensate "comfort women."
The South Korean Government reacted bitterly and criticized the Japanese Government for not acknowledging the seriousness of the problem.
Most of the women forced into sexual service for the Japanese military have refused to accept any money, which comes from a private fund and not the Japanese Government.
"The South Korean Government regrets the Japanese action to deliver the money to the comfort women without acknowledging the seriousness of the issue," it said in a statement.
The issue has been an emotional one among Asian countries, part of a larger debate over whether Japan has properly atoned for its military actions a half century ago.
It also has political overtones in Japan. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has a strong element that believes Japan has gone too far in apologizing. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sparked criticism and blast in the summer when he visited a shrine honouring Japan's war dead.
The women each received about $17,000 in compensation and $26,000 for medical treatment.
Each also received a letter of apology from Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, the fund said.
A South Korean women's group, the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, strongly opposes compensation by the nominally private fund. It wants the Japanese Government to compensate the victims directly.