South Korea, Japan settle deal on wartime Korean sex slaves

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan signed a deal to resolve deadlockover Korean women forced into Japanese military-run brothels during World War II.

Deal: It includes an apology from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a 1 billion yen ($8.3 million) aid fund from Tokyo for the elderly former sex slaves, could reverse decades of animosity and mistrust between the thriving democracies, trade partners and staunch US allies.

• Japan also offered to set up a new 1bn yen with the money, paid directly by the government, divided among the 46 former comfort women still alive, most of whom are in their late 80s and early 90s.

Key points: South Korea
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won