23 November 2016, 10:30 GMT
TOKYO (Sputnik) – According to the Russian Pacific Fleet’s newspaper, Russia had deployed the Bal mobile anti-ship missile system on Kunashir Island and installed the Bastion missile system on Iturup Island.
“I believe no,” Suga told reporters answering the question whether deployment of missile systems will have an impact on the negotiations.
He noted that Japan was going to hold talks to achieve a solution that would satisfy both parties.
“We continue to observe [the situation]. We believe that it is necessary to solve directly the issue of the Northern Territories [Japanese acronym for the south Kuril Islands],” Suga added.
The Kuril Islands are the subject of the long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japan lays claims to Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets. The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty after the World War II.
