A Japanese high court on Friday turned down a damages suit filed by eight Chinese nationals who were forced to work as laborers at a copper mine in Japan during World War II, Kyodo News reported.

While upholding a 2007 lower court decision that rejected the plaintiffs' claims, the Fukuoka High Court's Miyazaki branch expressed hope that the defendants -- the Japanese government and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. -- will make efforts to reach a compromise with the plaintiffs out of court.

Of the eight plaintiffs, six are now deceased. The two surviving plaintiffs and family members of the six who have died had sought 184 million yen (about 1.88 million U.S. dollars) in damages from the Japanese government and Mitsubishi Materials, successor to Mitsubishi Mining Co., the mine operator.

The high court decision followed a Supreme Court decision in 2007 that Chinese individuals have no right to demand war compensation from Japan.

Court findings showed that the eight were among 241 Chinese forced to work as laborers under harsh conditions at the Makimine copper mine in Miyazaki prefecture in southwestern Japan. No wages were paid to the laborers and 67 died before they could return home to China.

Earlier this month, another lawsuit filed against the Japanese government and two Japanese companies, Mitsui Mining Co. and Mitsubishi Materials Corp, by 45 Chinese laborers in Japan during World War II was also turned down by the Fukuoka High Court.

Source: Xinhua