In a rare display of political unity, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea on Thursday both condemned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for failing to apologise during a US visit for the wartime use of sex slaves.

Their respective foreign ministries each issued statements criticising Abe for distorting history, with Pyongyang comparing him to "psychopaths" and "hooligans".

In an address to a joint session of the US Congress, Abe expressed his "deep remorse" over Japan's actions towards neighboring Asian nations during World War II.