South Korea defended an agreement with Japan on Thursday to settle the issue of "comfort women" following criticism it was inadequate, saying it was the best any government could do in the lifetimes of the elderly victims of abuse.

Under Monday's agreement, South Korea confirmed the issue of "comfort women", as those forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels are euphemistically known, was resolved "finally and irreversibly", if Japan faithfully took steps to help survivors.

But some of the known 46 surviving victims have criticised the deal saying they were not consulted on the negotiations and it did not go far enough. Many other people in South Korea have been critical and the political opposition called it "degrading".