Japan sought talks with South Korea on Wednesday after a local court approved a request to seize assets from a Japanese steel-maker operating in the country, following a ruling over wartime forced labor.

Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned South Korean Ambassador to Japan Lee Su-hoon to the Foreign Ministry and formally proposed the launch of consultations.

In Seoul, a spokesman for the office of President Moon Jae-in would only say that the South Korean government will disclose its position on the Japanese move once the prime minister's office, which is in charge of the matter, prepares one.