Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura reiterated Friday in Tokyo that Japan will continue to pursue the returning of all four islands held by Russia, one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said only two are to be handed over.

"Our basic stance is unchanged," Machimura said at a press conference, but refrained from making further comments on Putin's remarks.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the islands are Japan's territory and "it is hard to understand why Russia refuses to return them."

The four islands, located north of Japan's northern Hokkaido Prefecture, were taken by the Soviet Union after the World War II. Dispute over the territories remains the major barrier for the two countries to reach a peace treaty.

Putin said Thursday that Russia will return two of the islands to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty, citing a joint declaration signed by the Soviet Union and Japan in 1956.

>Machimura plans to visit Moscow next month to discuss the issue with Russian officials and prepare for Putin's visit to Japan planned for next year.

Source: Xinhua