Russia-Japan talks on disputed isles go nowhere, 'significant differences' remain
The top diplomats of Japan and Russia say there is a way to go before their countries can resolve a long-standing dispute over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.
The drama of the 'Kurillian knot'
Not resolving the territorial dispute with Russia remains a solid option on the table for Tokyo, but choosing it would risk Japan's irrelevance in the region.
Japan and Russia to step up talks on economic activity on disputed isles
Japan and Russia have agreed to start new working-level talks regarding joint economic activity on the four disputed islands off Hokkaido, Foreign Ministry officials said. The director-level task force, launched separately from an existing working-level dialogue involving higher-level officials, is intended to boost coordination on ...
Japan softens tone on North Korea and Russia in foreign policy report as Abe pursues deals
Tokyo removed a reference to applying “maximum pressure” on Pyongyang and stopped short of explicitly claiming ownership of the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.
Abe has abandoned June timeline for Japan-Russia peace treaty, says source
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has given up on reaching a broad agreement on a Japan-Russia peace treaty when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June amid persisting differences over how to settle a long-standing territorial dispute, a government source said Thursday. Instead, the ...
Foreign Minister Taro Kono to visit Moscow in mid-May for Japan-Russia peace treaty talks
Foreign Minister Taro Kono plans to visit Moscow in mid-May for a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to advance postwar peace treaty talks that have stalled over a territorial dispute, a Japanese government source said Wednesday. The two-day visit from May 11 has been ...
Hokkaido Museum surveying disputed Russian-held isles in bid to save Japanese artifacts
The Hokkaido Museum in Sapporo has been surveying historical artifacts on the four Russian-held isles claimed by Japan through a bilateral arrangement that lets Japanese former residents make visa-free visits. Hiroshi Ushiro, the chief curator, used the program to make visits from 2005 through 2018 ...
Japan files protest with Russia over planned shooting practice near disputed island off Hokkaido
Japan lodged a protest over a planned Russian shooting exercise in waters near one of the four islands off Hokkaido that are at the center of a bilateral territorial dispute, the Japanese government said Thursday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference the ...
Russia begins military drill on disputed islands off Hokkaido
The Russian military on Tuesday launched an exercise on Etorofu and Kunashiri, two of the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, according to the Interfax news agency. Some 500 troops from machine gun and artillery units participated in the drill, which included practicing ...
Russia calls U.S.-Japan security alliance an impediment to peace treaty talks
Russia has stiffened its stance against advancing talks with Japan on a peace treaty, calling Tokyo's security alliance with the United States a threat and an impediment to improving bilateral ties, diplomatic sources said Saturday. The position apparently reflects Russia's deteriorating relations with the United ...
High-ranking Russian officials visit island disputed by Japan
The Japanese government has lodged a protest with Russia over Tuesday's visits by senior Russian government officials to Shikotan, one of the four Pacific islands held by Russia and claimed by Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday. Tokyo insisted that the visits conflict ...
Russia's Sergey Lavrov asks why Japan PM Abe is confident of ending row over islands off Hokkaido
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has questioned why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is confident of resolving the long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia over four Russian-held Pacific islands known as the Northern Territories. Abe expressed his resolve to advance the post-World War II peace ...
