A South Korean court's ruling that ordered Japan to compensate 16 women over forced wartime sexual slavery has been "finalized" as Tokyo did not appeal, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday.

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women — mostly from Korea, but also other parts of Asia including China — were forced to become sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

The issue, part of the countries' historical disputes over Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, has long plagued bilateral ties between the two US allies.

The 23 November ruling overturned a lower court's decision that had dismissed the case, and ordered Tokyo to pay around 200 million won ($152,000) to each of the Korean complainants.

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at the time the ruling was "absolutely unacceptable" and "clearly contrary to international law and agreements between the two countries."

South Korean media reports said Saturday that Tokyo's decision not to appeal was a continuation of its campaign to dismiss and minimize such rulings, as Japan has long claimed "state immunity" under international law, arguing it is not subject to the jurisdiction of courts in other countries.

Seoul's foreign ministry said the court ruling "was finalized today as there was no appeal from the Japanese government, the defendant."

"The South Korean government will continue making efforts to restore the honor and dignity of the comfort women victims, while ensuring that South Korea and Japan continue to cooperate in a future-oriented manner," it added in a statement, using a euphemism referring to sex slaves.                             

WITH AFP