TOKYO, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan told South Korea on Wednesday it has found the whereabouts of about 870 remains of Koreans who were taken to Japan as forced laborers before and during World War II, the Foreign Ministry said.

    The Japanese government said during a bilateral meeting with South Korea in Tokyo that information on the remains was provided mainly by five companies and local authorities, according to the ministry.

    The Japanese government has asked private firms that forced Koreans to work in Japan until the end of World War II, as well as municipalities and religious groups, to provide information on the remains of the Koreans.

    The Foreign Ministry did not disclose the identities of the companies and municipalities involved or the locations of the remains, citing privacy reasons and ongoing investigations on the remains. Enditem