The presidential office reiterated Friday that the issue of former South Korean sex slaves for Japan's World War II soldiers should be quickly addressed.

Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook made the comments to reporters, citing the age of the former sex slaves.

The issue has gained urgency as the victims are dying off. In 2007, more than 120 South Korean victims were alive, but the number has since dropped to 55, with their average age standing at 88.

Min's comments came a day after Suh Chung-won, a seven-term lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party with close ties to Park, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

Suh delivered Park's verbal message to Abe that she hopes that the two neighbors can make a new start this year, the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

In October, Abe delivered a letter to Park through a Japanese parliamentary delegation, saying he would like to improve their countries' soured relations through summit talks.

The issue of sex slaves has long been one of the key sticking points in relations between the two countries. So far, there is no sign of progress in addressing the issue.

Historians estimate that up to 200,000 Korean and other Asian women were forced into sexual servitude for Japan's soldiers.

Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula as a colony from 1910-1945. (Yonhap)