An approach to seek the initial return of two of four disputed islands that are administered by Russia but claimed by Japan has re-emerged in Tokyo as the government tries to advance talks over the decades-old territorial row, bilateral diplomatic sources said Thursday.
The move comes on the eve of planned talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a two-day economic forum through Saturday in the Russian Far East port of Vladivostok.
Abe and Putin are expected to discuss Putin's anticipated visit to Japan in December.