A breakthrough in the long-standing territorial dispute over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido remained elusive Friday during a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers in Tokyo.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister Taro Kono said only that the two have "made clear the outline of issues we should overcome" over the dispute.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking through a Japanese-language translator, said there are many issues still to deal with over the territorial issue.