The Diet enacted landmark legislation Wednesday that will provide a one-off payment to foreign veterans who fought for Japan during the war but are currently barred from receiving pensions.

The bill, passed into law following a House of Councilors vote Wednesday, marks a turnaround from the long-standing government policy that only Japanese nationals are entitled to government pensions related to wartime military service.

Under the new law, Koreans, Taiwanese and other foreign veterans who served in the Japanese military during the war will receive a 4 million yen lump-sum payment. Widows of foreign veterans will receive a 2.6 million yen lump-sum payment.