South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Tokyo on Thursday to act on the basis of remorse and reconciliation when managing bilateral ties and acknowledge the historical truth about women forced to provide sex for Japanese troops before and during World War II.

Amid tension between Seoul and Tokyo over the future of a 2015 bilateral agreement on the "comfort women" issue, Moon described the women's treatment as an inhumane crime and said that Japan, "the perpetrator, must not declare (that the issue) is over." Moon made the remarks in a speech at an annual ceremony commemorating a movement for Korean independence during Japanese colonial rule.

"I do not seek special treatment from Japan," Moon said. "I ask only that (Japan) walk alongside us into the future on the basis of heartfelt remorse and reconciliation, befitting our closest neighbor."