Asahi and Sankei wrote that Prime Minister Abe plans to hold talks with Russian President Putin on the fringes of an international business confab in Vladivostok on Thursday. The papers noted that while the two leaders might forge a consensus on the promotion of “joint economic activities” on the disputed four islands, they probably will not be able to achieve any major breakthrough in the stalemated Northern Territories talks.  

NHK reported last night that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Morgulov told the press in Vladivostok yesterday that progress in the Northern Territories issue is “unlikely” at the Abe-Putin meeting tomorrow because the negotiation is a long process and there is still a substantial gap between the two sides on territorial and other issues.