Territorial issue with Japan - not subject of discussion - Mironov.

25/11 Tass 81

PYONGYANG, November 25 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Federation Council
speaker Sergei Mironov stressed that the Southern Kuriles belong to Russia
and this issue is not the subject of further discussions.

"I as parliamentarian believe that this theme should not be discussed
with our Japanese counterparts in the future," he said in an interview
with Itar-Tass on Wednesday following the Japanese government's adoption
of a position paper that stated the Russian Federation illegally occupies
the Northern Territories.
"These islands belonged and will belong to Russia," he said adding
that "Russia and Japan have many other issues to be discussed."
Mironov is on an official visit to North Korea. Early in the day he
visited a monument to Russia soldiers who gave their lives for the
liberation of North Korea from Japan. He laid flowers at the monument
erected in central Pyongyang back in 1946.
Over 1,326 Soviet soldiers were buried on the territory of North Korea'
s five provinces.
On Tuesday, Mironov held talks with North Korean parliament speaker
Choe Thae-Bok and Prime Minister Kim Yong-il. In particular, the parties
agreed to jointly mark the 65th anniversary of liberation of North Korea
from Japan's rule in 2010.

-0-isk/gor