The Japanese government says the issue of Japan compensating Koreans who were forced into slave labor during Japan's colonial rule has already been resolved.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told reporters Friday that the issue was settled under the 1965 South Korea-Japan treaty that normalized bilateral relations.

Japanese Finance Minister Koichiro Gemba also said the compensation issue, including individual redress claims, was resolved completely and finally.

The top officials’ remarks represent Tokyo’s official position on the latest ruling by South Korea’s Supreme Court that says Japanese companies are responsible to compensate South Koreans it forced into slave labor during the colonial period.