Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is avoiding commenting on a ruling by South Korea’s Supreme Court that Japanese companies are responsible to compensate South Koreans they forced into labor during Japan’s colonization of Korea.

KBS asked the Japanese firm on Thursday if it plans to observe the ruling, but it only said it does not yet have full knowledge of the court's verdict.

A Japanese civic group seeking to assist South Koreans forced into the Japanese workforce during the colonial era said Mitsubishi and other firms involved have no choice but to honestly consider what steps they will take regarding compensation claims.