President Yoon Suk-yeol has boycotted the mine's commemoration in Japan, purportedly over Tokyo's failure to recognise forced Korean workers Seoul's efforts to improve ties with Tokyo have hit a snag over a commemoration of Korean victims of Japan's colonial past.

South Korea’s government says it has decided not to attend a memorial service near Japan’s Sado Island Gold Mines due to unspecified disagreements with Japan over the event, which stirred longstanding tensions over the abuse of Korean forced laborers at the site before the end of World War II.

South Korea’s decision not to participate in what was envisioned an a moment of reconciliation highlighted the perceived lack of sincerity in Japan’s treatment of historical issues.

South Korea expressed regret to Japan on Monday over Tokyo's attitude towards a memorial service held for labourers including Koreans forced to work in Japan's Sado mines during World War Two, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -After boycotting a memorial event organised by Tokyo, South Korea held its own on Monday to remember compatriots forced to work in a Japanese mine during World War Two, highlighting lingering sensitivities between the key U.

South Korea marked a solemn commemoration on Sado Island Monday, honoring Korean victims of forced labor during World War II at Japan's Sado gold mines. The observance, led by South Korea's Foreign Ministry,

By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) -After boycotting one organised by Tokyo, South Korea held its own memorial event on Monday for compatriots forced to work in a Japanese mine during World War Two, highlighting lingering sensitivities between the countries.