Japan may not attend a leaders' meeting with South Korea and China this year unless "proper measures" are taken in a dispute with South Korea over compensation for wartime forced labour.

Ties between the two Asian neighbours soured after South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered a Japanese steelmaker to pay compensation for forced labour, which prompted Tokyo to impose export curbs on some key high-tech materials.

South Korea is set to host the trilateral summit, held roughly once a year, but Kyodo news agency quoted diplomatic sources as saying it would be "impossible" for new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to visit unless Japan's concerns over the issue were addressed. This view had been conveyed to South Korea.

The South Korean Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Nippon Steel Corp should pay compensation to four South Koreans for forced labour during World War Two, and a lower court in 2019 approved the seizure of part of the assets of the company.

Nippon Steel filed an appeal against the ruling in August.

Japan argues the ruling violates international law because all claims for compensation rising from Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula were settled under a 1965 treaty.

Suga, who took office last month, called for both countries to repair their frayed ties in his first conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

But Suga also later said Japan would "continue to firmly seek appropriate action from South Korea".

Japan may not attend a leaders' meeting with South Korea and China this year unless "proper measures" are taken in a dispute with South Korea over compensation for wartime forced labour.

Japan may not attend a leaders' meeting with South Korea and China this year unless "proper measures" are taken in a dispute with South Korea over compensation for wartime forced labour. Ties between the two Asian neighbours soured after South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered a Japanese steelmaker to pay compensation for forced labour, which prompted Tokyo to impose export curbs on some key high-tech materials. South Korea is set to host the trilateral summit, held roughly once a year, but Kyodo news agency quoted diplomatic sources as saying it would be "impossible" for new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to visit unless Japan's concerns over the issue were addressed. This view had been conveyed to South Korea. The South Korean Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Nippon Steel Corp should pay compensation to four South Koreans for forced labour during World War Two, and a lower court in 2019 approved the seizure of part of the assets of the company. Nippon Steel filed an appeal against the ruling in August. Japan argues the ruling violates international law because all claims for compensation rising from Japan's 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean peninsula were settled under a 1965 treaty. Suga, who took office last month, called for both countries to repair their frayed ties in his first conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. But Suga also later said Japan would "continue to firmly seek appropriate action from South Korea".

Japan may not attend summit in Korea due to wartime labour dispute

Sri Lankan police arrested and charged a senior naval officer Wednesday for the abduction and murder of two Tamil businessmen during the final stages of the island's brutal civil war.

Lieutenant Commander K&nbsp;A&nbsp;Dayananda was taken before a magistrate and remanded in custody over the double murder, which investigators believe took place in January 2009.

Police said the victims, both from the Tamil minority group, were kidnapped by naval officers and later killed despite their families paying a ransom for their release.

"The vehicle of the two victims was taken to Welisara navy camp on the pretext that it contained a bomb," a police official told AFP.&nbsp;

"Later, they dismantled the vehicle and sold the parts after having killed the two men."

Sri Lanka is investigating the disappearance and presumed murder of 11 young men between 2008 and 2009 in the dying days of the 37-year civil war between government forces and Tamil separatists.

Several navy officers are currently on bail in connection with the alleged disappearances. The missing men are believed to have been murdered before the brutal conflict ended in 2009.

Senior military figures and close associates of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse have been accused of murders, cover-ups and extortion during his decade of rule.

Several intelligence officers have also been released on bail for charges related to the assassination of a prominent newspaper editor and attacks on other journalists and dissidents.

The January 2009 killing of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of then-president Rajapakse, sparked international outcry and shone a light on human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Wickrematunga had accused Rajapakse's defence secretary and brother Gotabhaya of taking kickbacks in arms purchases, and was due to testify in court when he was murdered.

Gotabhaya Rajapakse has denied running death squads.

The Rajapakses are under investigation for large-scale financial fraud and murder during Mahinda's presidency, which ended in 2015.

Sri Lankan police arrested and charged a senior naval officer Wednesday for the abduction and murder of two Tamil businessmen during the final stages of the island's brutal civil war.

Sri Lankan police arrested and charged a senior naval officer Wednesday for the abduction and murder of two Tamil businessmen during the final stages of the island's brutal civil war. Lieutenant Commander K A Dayananda was taken before a magistrate and remanded in custody over the double murder, which investigators believe took place in January 2009. Police said the victims, both from the Tamil minority group, were kidnapped by naval officers and later killed despite their families paying a ransom for their release. "The vehicle of the two victims was taken to Welisara navy camp on the pretext that it contained a bomb," a police official told AFP. "Later, they dismantled the vehicle and sold the parts after having killed the two men." Sri Lanka is investigating the disappearance and presumed murder of 11 young men between 2008 and 2009 in the dying days of the 37-year civil war between government forces and Tamil separatists. Several navy officers are currently on bail in connection with the alleged disappearances. The missing men are believed to have been murdered before the brutal conflict ended in 2009. Senior military figures and close associates of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse have been accused of murders, cover-ups and extortion during his decade of rule. Several intelligence officers have also been released on bail for charges related to the assassination of a prominent newspaper editor and attacks on other journalists and dissidents. The January 2009 killing of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of then-president Rajapakse, sparked international outcry and shone a light on human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Wickrematunga had accused Rajapakse's defence secretary and brother Gotabhaya of taking kickbacks in arms purchases, and was due to testify in court when he was murdered. Gotabhaya Rajapakse has denied running death squads. The Rajapakses are under investigation for large-scale financial fraud and murder during Mahinda's presidency, which ended in 2015.

Sri Lanka arrests navy officer over wartime murders

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Japan may not attend summit in Korea due to wartime labour dispute

Sri Lanka arrests navy officer over wartime murders