Japan's Aso vows to solve territorial row with Russia

[ludahai]

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"I will negotiate (with Russia) with a strong determination to make progress and solve the territorial issue," Aso said at a government-backed annual convention which demands the return of the islands off Japan's northern coast.

Japan demands the return of all four islands -- called the southern Kuril islands by Russia and by Japan the Northern Territories -- which Soviet troops seized days after Tokyo's surrender in World War II in 1945.

It would be nice to see this resolved. Let us not forget that the USSR's seizure and subsequent annexation of Karafuto and Chishima following World War II in the absense of a treaty is against international law.