A SWOT Analysis of a Japan-Russia Peace Treaty
Journal: Journal of Asian Research
Year: 2024

Japan and the Soviet Union/Russia have had a bilateral territorial dispute over four islands (Etorofu/Iturup, Kunashiri/Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) over the decades. The Japanese government calls the four islands the “Northern Territories” whereas Russia regards the islands as the Southern “Kurile Islands”. The four islands used to be under the control of Japan until the Soviet Union occupied them at the end of the Second World War. Both countries had diplomatic negotiations for a peace tre