A South Korean court has ordered Japan to compensate a group of women who were forced to work in military brothels during World War Two.
The 16 women, who were kept as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers, previously had their case dismissed.
They filed a lawsuit in 2016 but Seoul Central District Court dismissed it five years later, citing sovereign immunity.
The Seoul High Court have now overturned the ruling.
In a statement the court said it recognises South Korea's jurisdiction over the Japanese government because the women lived in the country and sought compensation for acts deemed "unlawful".
"It is reasonable to consider that there is a common international law which does not recognise state immunity for an illegal act... regardless of whether the act was a sovereign act".
Lee Yong-soo, a 95-year-old activist and victim was emotional as she thanked the court for the ruling.
