Abe tells Biden important for Japan, South Korea to carry out 'comfort women' agreement

Abe told Biden in telephone talks that it was not constructive to go back on the agreement, according to the statement.

The statement came as Japan has recalled its ambassador to South Korea over a statue commemorating Korean women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. The statement did not refer to the statue.

Biden told Abe the United States would support the agreement and strongly hoped that both Japan and South Korea would carry out it, according to the statement.

In 2015, Japan and South Korea reached a landmark agreement to resolve the issue of 'comfort women', an issue that has long plagued ties between the neighbours.