Tokyo and Seoul failed to make progress on the "comfort women" issue in a meeting Monday between Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki and First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong.
Saiki explained Japan's stance that the issue does not involve any legal matters.
A South Korean government source said holding bilateral discussions itself has meaning, effectively admitting that the vice ministers failed to make any progress close the gap in their stances. South Korea wants Japan to legal responsibility over the issue.