TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s top government spokesman on Monday defended the new head of public broadcaster NHK for his remarks that the use of women as military prostitutes was common worldwide during World War II.

NHK chairman Katsuto Momii told a news conference Saturday marking his appointment that “comfort women” existed in any country at war, not just Japan. He also criticized South Korea for dredging up a compensation issue that had been settled by a bilateral peace treaty.