Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has expressed his commitment to resolving the issue of four Russian-held islands and concluding a peace treaty with Russia.

Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

At his office on Thursday, Kishida met officials from municipal governments in Hokkaido that demand the return of the four islands, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan. The municipalities include Nemuro City and Betsukai Town.

During the meeting, the local officials called for an early resumption of exchange programs between the former Japanese residents of the islands and Russians living there.

The exchanges were suspended following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.

Kishida said relations between Japan and Russia are facing difficulties due to the war in Ukraine, but his government's policy to resolve the territorial issue and sign a peace treaty with Russia has not changed at all.

He said that exchanges between former and current residents of the four islands have been one of the top priorities, and the government will work hard to resume them as soon as possible.

Ahead of the meeting, about 500 people took to the street in Tokyo for the first time in three years, calling for the return of the islands.