Japan says Moon’s remarks on forced labor issue ‘regrettable’

Japan’s top government spokesman said on Friday that remarks by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the issue of forced wartime labor were “extremely regrettable” and that he was trying to shift Seoul’s responsibility to Japan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was speaking at a regular news conference.

Moon said on Thursday that Japan’s political leaders should not undermine bilateral ties by “politicizing” the issue of South Koreans forced to work by Japanese companies during World War II.