Tokyo confirms readiness to iron out Kuril Islands’ issue through dialogue - TASS

Japan’s government will keep holding active consultations with Russia based on its stance, which is to solve the issue on the ownership of the Kuril Islands with the further signing of a peace treaty, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in its annual diplomatic Blue Book report.

"The Northern Territories [Tokyo’s term for the Southern Kuril Islands - TASS] are the islands, over which Japan has sovereignty. The Japanese government maintains close dialogue between the leaders and foreign ministers of the two countries and will continue active talks with Russia on the basis of our basic position - solving the problem of the ownership over four northern islands and the signing of a peace treaty in the future," the document said.