Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Tuesday reiterated his resolve to move ahead with negotiations with Russia on the issue of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.

The disputed isles, including Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, were seized by the Soviet Union following Japan's surrender in World War II. The islands are called Northern Territories by Japan and Southern Kurils by Russia.

At an annual rally to urge Russia to return the islands, Noda said the government would continue to make steady and determined efforts to press ahead with negotiations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in a press briefing with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Tokyo late January that the two sides remained far apart on the issue.