Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has asked Japan to refrain from responding excessively to a South Korean court ruling that ordered Tokyo to provide compensation to Korean victims of its wartime sexual slavery.

According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry, Kang held a 20-minute phone call with her Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on Saturday at his request and the two discussed the latest court ruling.

Motegi conveyed his government's stance while Kang urged against an excessive response from Japan. 

The two sides agreed to continue close communication between their diplomatic authorities on various bilateral issues.

On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ordered the Japanese government to pay 100 million won each in compensation to 12 elderly victims of wartime sexual enslavement.

Seoul's foreign ministry said it respects the ruling and vowed to spare no effort to help restore victims' dignity and honor.

Japan is strongly protesting the court decision, citing the principle of state immunity, and maintains that the comfort women issue was resolved through the 1965 treaty that normalized bilateral ties as well as a bilateral settlement agreement in 2015.