More Than 2,700 Remains Found In Japan Confirmed As Korean Forced Laborers During Japanese Colonial Rule, Says South Korean Commission

A South Korean commission on Wednesday confirmed that the thousands of remains found in Japan were Koreans who were reportedly forced laborers during the Japanese colonial rule, as noted by Yonhap News Agency Wednesday.

South Korea and Japan found 2,745 set of remains from 340 different locations in Japan since 2005 after a joint investigation was launched.

A South Korean commission associated with the office of the prime minister reportedly revealed that the number of remains found could increase if they continue with the joint investigation.

The group also said that 153 set of remains had already been identified as of October; hence, some of the bereaved kin already expressed their plan to repatriate them.

"The repatriation should be conducted as soon as possible as the bereaved families are already very old," said Kim Jong Dae, a spokesperson of the bereaved families.

According to reports, the commission repatriated more than 400 remains of South Korean soldiers and military authorities after they were found in a Japanese temple from 2008 to 2010. However, the repatriation of forced laborers reportedly had been stopped.

"Despite the families' will, the Japanese government has been passive in cooperating with the repatriation," an official from the South Korean commission said.

According to Korea Times Wednesday, the commission's confirmation about the remains found in Japan came amid an increasing call for the two countries to increase efforts to repatriate the remains of the forced laborers.

Despite this, the matter reportedly was not brought up during a bilateral meeting between South Korean President Park Geun Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday.

Further reports revealed that the bilateral talks with regards to the repatriation of Korean soldiers, officers and laborers had been passive since August 2012 after the South Korea-Japan ties weakened because of historical and territorial disagreements.

In addition, allegations on forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule were among the concerns that impacted that increasing tensions between South Korea and Japan.