[Tintin Storm]

The Kuril Islands are the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan that has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty after World War II.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, recent amendments to Japan's law on South Kuril islands will impede future talks with Russia on joint economic activity.
"The adopted amendments directly contradict the high-level agreements on the establishment of joint [Russia-Japan] economic activities in the southern Kuril Islands, including in the interests of creating an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between our two countries," the ministry said in a commentary posted on its website.
Moscow went on to express regret over Tokyo's move as it undermines bilateral cooperation.
"We regret to note that the step taken by the Japanese lawmakers puts serious obstacles to further progress in the negotiations on joint activities," the commentary said.
Russian-Japanese relations have long been complicated by the fact that the two nations have never signed a permanent peace treaty after the end of World War II. The deal was not reached because of a disagreement over a group of four islands that are claimed by both countries — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai — collectively referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan.
The Japanese parliament has recently adopted several amendments to the Act on Special Measures concerning Advancement of Resolution of Northern Territories Issues of 1982, stipulating that the joint economic activity must ultimately lead to the return of southern Kuril islands to Japan.
Experts believe that such actions on the part of Tokyo were dictated by the US, as they are not profitable for the Japanese economy, nor do they find support in the Japanese business community.
In May, Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow and discussed joint economic activities of the two countries on the Southern Kuril Islands, claimed by both countries. They agreed that a Japanese business mission would visit the islands in July or August this year.

[ThirdTerm]

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, recent amendments to Japan's law on South Kuril islands will impede future talks with Russia on joint economic activity.

"The adopted amendments directly contradict the high-level agreements on the establishment of joint [Russia-Japan] economic activities in the southern Kuril Islands, including in the interests of creating an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between our two countries," the ministry said in a commentary posted on its website.

The amended law on the Northern Territories was approved by the Diet almost eight years ago in 2010, which was long before the start of new negotiations between Russia and Japan by the Abe government. The tone of the amended text is only slightly more patriotic than the original, which does not impede the current talks.