All papers reported that Ambassador in charge of Japan-Russia relations Harada held talks with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Morgulov in Tokyo on Wednesday, quoting the Japanese envoy as telling the press afterward that both sides put forward new approaches in order to achieve a breakthrough in concluding a peace treaty that is closely linked to the resolution of the Northern Territories dispute. These were the first peace treaty talks between Tokyo and Moscow in eight months. The two officials are expected to meet again in Moscow before PM Abe visits Vladivostok in September for an informal summit with President Putin.