Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that Russia wants a collective missile defense system that will protect the United States, Russia and Japan.

Lavrov made the remarks when meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

"The creation of a genuinely collective system, which President Putin has spoken for and which would bring together the United States, Europe, Russia and all interested countries, including Japan, is the best way to track down and, if there is a need, to neutralise missile proliferation threats."

For his part, Komura says that Japanese cooperation with the US on a prospective missile defense system is a "forced" measure and not directed against Russia.

"Japan makes decisions with respect to the interests of its neighbours. As to the cooperation with the United States on a missile defense system, we should say that these are forced actions, given Japan's position."

Moscow has strongly opposed US plans to deploy missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic, saying they will erode Russia's nuclear deterrent.

Lavrov also says Russia will continue talks with Japan on settling their territorial dispute even though there is no sign of progress on the status of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

He says the two nations must work "patiently" to settle the issue, and admitting that both parties have a will to move towards a final settlement of the issue.