Japan's Abe calls for summit with Putin over Pacific islands

TOKYO, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve territorial differences in the Pacific Ocean.

Speaking at a news conference, Abe called for a peace treaty, never signed between the two countries after World War II, and referred to islands north of Japan claimed by both Japan and Russia. Known in Japan as the Northern Territories and by Russia as the Southern Kuril Islands, the land has been a source of dispute, and trips to Japan by Putin have recently been cancelled in light of geopolitical issues.

Abe intends to visit Russia next spring, after he and Putin spoke informally at the recent G-7 conference about resolving the issue. Each has expressed optimism that settling the matter is appropriate and possible.

Russia and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1956.The islands are of volcanic rock and have about 20,000 inhabitants, as well as Russian soldiers. The local economy is largely based on fishing.