North Korea has called on Japan to acknowledge its national and legal responsibilities over the wartime sex slavery issue and offer a strict apology as well as compensation.
 
Speaking to a reporter at the North's Korean Central News Agency on Friday, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said the recent deal on the issue reached between South Korea and Japan is unacceptable. The spokesman called the agreement political bargaining that neglected international justice and victims' demands.
 
The spokesman said the victims have always urged Tokyo to admit its moral and legal responsibility, make a sincere apology, provide compensation and take measures to prevent a recurrence and restore victims' honor, adding that as long as these demands are not met, the issue cannot be resolved.
 
Meanwhile, Xinhuanet, the Internet edition of Xinhua news agency said Friday that Taiwan and Japan also agreed to begin talks on resolving Tokyo's wartime crime concerning Taiwanese victims.
 
Taiwan will set up a task force and gather testimony from the victims.
 
Four victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery survive in Taiwan. The country will also build a museum dedicated to the victims.