The South Korean government has expressed deep concerns about Japanese leaders' angry reaction to a recent ruling by South Korea's Supreme Court on wartime forced labor.
The foreign affairs ministry said on Tuesday that cannot help feeling deeply regretful about how Japan is continuing its harsh rhetoric, without looking into the fundamental problem.
It said countries must respect courts' decisions, including Japan.
The ministry also warned that putting too much emphasis on this case will damage the two countries' effort to develop a future-oriented relationship.
South Korea's Supreme Court's ruled last week that a Japanese steelmaker will have to provide legal compensation to four South Koreans forced to work for the company during World War II, without any pay.
Earlier Tuesday, Tokyo's foreign minister called the ruling "violence" and a "challenge" to the international order.