A North Korean representative to the United Nations criticized Japan at a U.N. committee meeting Thursday for "abducting 200,000" women -- a reference to women who were put into sexual servitude for Japanese troops before and during World War II.
During a discussion of women's issues by the Third Committee, the North Korean representative referred to the sex slaves the Japanese military brought to frontline brothels and said Japan has yet to settle its past crimes.
Some historians estimate the number of such women at about 200,000.
Eiji Yamamoto, minister at Japan's permanent mission to the U.N., said there is no evidence to support the figure of 200,000 and demanded that North Korea work to resolve the issue of abducted Japanese nationals.