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Moscow dismisses Tokyo's protest over Russian PM Medvedev's visit to Kuril Islands

Xinhua, August 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday dismissed Japan's protest over Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, saying Tokyo's reaction indicated that it continues challenging the outcomes of World War II.

"Japan's reaction to Medvedev's visit to the Iturup Island (one of the Kuril Islands) once again indicates that Tokyo continues challenging the generally recognized outcomes of WWII on the eve of the 70th anniversary of its end," the TASS news agency reported, quoting a statement of the ministry.

"Such public rhetoric casts doubt on the Japanese government's assurances of respect for the historical truth and memory of the war that has brought death and suffering to tens of millions of citizens in East Asia," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, Medvedev arrived at the Iturup Island where he attended a national youth forum and visited a few construction sites that are part of Russia's Kuril development program.

During his visit in Iturup Island, Medvedev said Russia needs to deploy an advanced combat-ready military group on the Kuril Islands.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the country's officials would continue visiting the disputed islands with no plans to take into account Tokyo's position.

The four disputed Pacific islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia, were occupied by Soviet troops in 1945 and are currently under Russian control.

Russia and Japan have long been at odds due to the territorial dispute over these islands, which has blocked a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of WWII. Endit