TOKYO, October 19. /TASS/. The Japanese government remains committed to maintaining dialogue with Russia to resolve outstanding bilateral issues while continuing to assert its claims to the southern Kuril Islands, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a news conference in Tokyo.

The briefing coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration, signed in Moscow on October 19, 1956, which formally ended the state of war between the two countries and restored diplomatic and trade relations.

"We take very seriously the fact that the ‘Northern Territories’ issue (Tokyo’s term for the southern part of the Kuril Islands - TASS) remains unresolved and that no peace treaty has been concluded with Russia," Kihara said. "Japan’s policy on resolving the status of the four northern islands and concluding a peace treaty remains unchanged."

He noted that bilateral relations were currently in a "difficult situation" amid the conflict in Ukraine. "We intend to maintain the necessary contacts with Russia and continue working to resolve the various outstanding issues," Kihara added.

Moscow and Tokyo have held consultations on a peace treaty to formally conclude World War II since the mid-20th century. The main obstacle remains their disagreement over the status of the southern Kuril Islands.

Following the war, the entire Kuril archipelago became part of the Soviet Union. Japan disputes Russia’s sovereignty over Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and a group of nearby small, uninhabited islands. The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that Russian sovereignty over these territories, established in accordance with international law, is not open to question.

After Tokyo imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow suspended consultations with Japan on a peace treaty. Russia also withdrew from talks on joint economic activities in the southern Kuril Islands, while visits to the area by former Japanese residents were discontinued.