Moscow, Oct. 26 -- The Kremlin has welcomed Japan's desire to sign a peace treaty with Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

This follows a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who told parliament that pursuing an agreement is part of her government's foreign policy agenda.

Japan and Russia never signed a peace treaty after the end of World War II. The absence of a treaty stems from a longstanding dispute over the four southernmost islands of the Kuril archipelago, which were incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1945 as part of the postwar settlement. Tokyo, however, continues to claim what it calls the Northern Territories, RT reported.

Speaking in parliament, Takaichi said, "The Japanese government's policy...