St. Petersburg, January 30 (Xinhua) -- Dmitry Medvedev, vice chairman of the Russian Security Council, said on January 30 that Russia plans to deploy a new ** in the South Kuril Islands (known as the four northern islands in Japan).
Medvedev posted on social ** on the same day that Russia will actively develop the South Kuril Islands while strengthening its strategic role, including the deployment of new ** there. According to Medvedev, "Russia does not care at all about the feelings of the Japanese about the so-called northern territories," because "this is not a disputed territory, but Russia."
Medvedev also said that while the Japanese side seeks to sign a peace treaty with Russia, it hopes to discuss the issue of the South Kuril Islands with Russia and maintain sanctions against Russia. No one is opposed to the signing of a peace treaty with Japan, but it must be made clear that the territorial issue between Russia and Japan has been resolved in accordance with the Russian Constitution.
The four islands of Hamai, Shikotan, Kunashir, and Seto, north of Hokkaido, Japan, are called the Northern Four Islands by Japan, and the South Kuril Islands by Russia. The islands belonged to Japan before World War II, were occupied by the Soviet Union after World War II, and were effectively controlled by Russia as a successor state after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia and Japan have been in dispute over the ownership of these islands, and as a result, the two sides have not yet concluded a peace treaty.