The Northern Territories consist of the islands of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu. On February 7th, 1855, Japan and Russia signed the "Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation" which peacefully defined the national borders of each respective country. Since then, the Northern Territories, legally and historically, have been considered part of the Japanese territory
The Northern Territories Affairs Administration's primary aims are three-fold;
1) To seek a peaceful resolution to the Northern Territories issue
2) To provide support for the former residents of the Northern Territories
3) To promote the peaceful return of the Northern Territories