A Japanese court on Thursday refused to award compensation to Korean women who were allegedly forced to work in a Japanese machinery factory during World War II.

In the latest rejection in a string of similar cases, the Nagoya High Court upheld a lower court's ruling that the six Korean women - aged 76 to 78 - and a relative of a now deceased woman had lost their rights to seek damages.

Judge Kunio Aoyama acknowledged the plaintiffs were "forced to come to Japan and work after being threatened or deceived."

But he also said that under the agreements between Japan and South Korea when they restored relations in 1965, the case was a matter between states rather than between states and individuals.

The plaintiffs filed the suit against the Japanese government and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, demanding money and apologies.

The Korean women said they were brought to Japan in 1944, then aged 13 to 15, convinced they would work and earn money while going to school.