Seoul — A South Korean court has ordered Japan to compensate women forced to work in Japan’s military brothels during World War 2, a landmark decision that inflamed tensions between the US allies just before Joe Biden takes office.

The Seoul district court on Friday made what is thought to be first decision ordering Japan to compensate what are euphemistically known as “comfort women”, in a case brought on behalf of 12 of the woman. It ordered the Japanese government to pay 100-million won ($91,000) each to surviving women and family members of those who died...

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