The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Lantos, has signed as joint sponsor a House resolution urging Japan to apologize for forcing Asian women into sexual slavery during World War Two.

Lantos is the 145th joint sponsor among congressmen, increasing the possibility of the resolution's smooth passage with the foreign affairs committee as well as the House plenary session.

He also said on June 16th that he will openly support the resolution to a group of ethnic Koreans in Los Angeles.

The foreign affairs committee will vote on the resolution Tuesday. If approved, the resolution is expected to go before the House for a full vote in the middle of next month.