The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, speaks during the international convention for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific in Goyang on Nov 16, 2018. (CHUNG SUNG-JUN / POOL / AFP)

SEOUL, ROK — A senior official from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on a visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) has called for Japan to apologize for forced labor during World War II.

Ri Jong-hyok made the comments Friday at a forum outside ROK's capital that represented a rare effort by the two countries to discuss Japan's actions before and during World War II.

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Anti-Japanese sentiment runs deep in both DPRK and ROK, which were colonized by Japan for 35 years before their division at the end of the war in 1945.

Ri is a vice chairman of the DPRK's Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and heads the DPRK's five-member delegation to the forum.

Officials from ROK's national government say they have no plans to meet Ri during his visit in the ROK.