South Korean forced laborers win 1st legal victory

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of nine South Koreans who demanded Japanese firms pay them for forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of Korea.

The Supreme Court says it repealed lower court decisions that ruled against the South Koreans seeking unpaid wages and financial redress from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Steel Corp. for forced labor from 1941 to 1945.

The court said Friday that it's the first time a ruling has favored South Koreans seeking such compensation from Japanese firms.

The matter will now be sent to a lower court to determine compensation. A lawyer for the workers says South Korea might confiscate any South Korean property the firms have if they refuse to pay.