The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday reiterated in a statement the legality of Russia's sovereignty over the Southern Kuril Islands, which are also claimed by Japan.

The ministry said in a statement that Russia has noticed remarks by Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano and Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara that Russian sovereignty claims over the islands have no judicial base.

"We would like to remind everyone that Russia has all the necessary rights to this territory; our sovereignty is absolutely lawful and unquestionable," the statement said.

The statement also stressed Russia's claim is based on the results of World War II and has been justified "in the Crimean Treaty on Far East of three great powers on February 11, 1945; in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945; in the San Francisco Peace Treaty on Sept 8, 1951, and in Article 107 of the U.N. Charter."

However, Tokyo has also been reiterating its sovereignty claims over the islands, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan.

Russia and Japan have long been at odds over the sovereignty of the four Pacific islands. The disputes have blocked a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of World War II.

On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich urged the United States not to interfere in the settlement of the territorial issue between Russia and Japan.

He said Russia sees any attempt to interfere in the issue as "unacceptable" and strongly rejects any attempt to alter the results of World War II.