Japanese Foreign Ministry: Tokyo intends to resolve with Moscow the issue of ownership of the Kuril Islands , Shikotan and Habomai and sign the corresponding peace treaty. This was insisted on by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, quoted by RIA Novosti.
“Regarding the peace treaty with Russia, our task is to resolve the issue of the [Kuril] Islands' belonging, without shifting it onto the shoulders of future generations.” , – noted the head of the Foreign Ministry.
In mid-October, the new Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, during a debate in parliament, made a statement that Tokyo's sovereignty extends to the South Kurils. Like the Foreign Minister, he urged to resolve this issue without leaving it to the next generations.
Due to the dispute over the ownership of the southern part of the Kuriles, Moscow and Tokyo cannot sign a peace treaty following the Second World War. Japan regards Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islands as their “northern territories.” In turn, Russia does not recognize the very fact of the territorial dispute.