A Japnese news agency says Japan has moved toward solving a fishing dispute with South Korea.
Kyodo News Agency in Tokyo said Wednesday that Japan decided to accept South Korea's request for fishing rights in its exclusive economic zone off its coastline in northern Japan.
Japan had withheld approval of Seoul's request in retaliation for an accord between South Korea and Russia, which allows South Korea to fish in the waters near four disputed Russian-held islands. Tokyo also claims the islands.