The Japanese government maintains the position that it is necessary to resolve the issue of the "Northern Territories", as Tokyo calls the southern part of the Kuril Islands, and sign a peace treaty with Russia. This was announced by the Deputy General Secretary of the Cabinet of the Government of Japan, Kei Sato.
"The issue of "Northern Territories" is the most important in the relations between Japan and Russia. The government continues to take the position that it is necessary to determine the ownership of the four northern islands (this is another wording in Japan regarding the South Kuril Islands) and sign a peace treaty with Russia," he noted.
Sato reiterated Tokyo's position that "the relations between Japan and Russia remain in a difficult situation" due to the ongoing events in Ukraine, but emphasized that the Japanese side is ready to "provide for patient cooperation with Russia."
