Another South Korean woman who was forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II has died, a civic group said Tuesday, the latest since Seoul and Tokyo reached a controversial agreement on the issue last year.

The deceased, surnamed Choi, died Monday at the age of 90, according to the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.

Her death drops the number of surviving victims to 45. In 2015, nine former sex slaves died.

Only 238 women have registered with the South Korean government as former sex slaves, though historians estimate more than 200,000 women, mostly Korean, were forced to work at front-line brothels for Japanese soldiers during the war.

South Korea and Japan reached a landmark accord on Dec. 28 to end their dispute with Tokyo's acknowledgment of responsibility, an apology from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japan's offer of 1 billion yen ($8.5 million) in reparations to the victims.

The issue of the "comfort women," a euphemistic term for the former sex slaves, had been a major thorn in bilateral relations.

The deal sparked protests among some victims and their supporters, who argued the government failed to hold Japan legally accountable in the deal and failed to consult with them beforehand. (Yonhap)