Kuril

Kuril Islands, including the Russo-Japanese territorial dispute between the four northern islands (Russia, said the South Kuril Islands).

Much of the Sea of Okhotsk visible in the image is covered with low clouds that often form around the islands in the Kuril chain.

Medvedev also said that the South Kuril Islands, is of strategic significance to Russia, the Russian territory "indivisible" part of it.

Japanese media said the Russian government several senior officials will again visit boarded the South Kuril Islands.

Maehara then responded that the South Kuril Islands (Japan said that "the four northern islands" ) has always been Japanese territory.

Recently, Medvedev said in Moscow, the strategic significance of the South Kuril Islands, is an inalienable part of Russia.

A member of an indigenous people of Japan, now inhabiting parts of Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands.

Medvedev also said that the South Kuril Islands (Japan seeking the return of four islands) is the territory of the Russian Federation.

Media analysis, said Ivanov's visit is the declaration of Russia sovereignty over the South Kuril Islands has taken a new step.

The Kuril Island chain is built from a line of volcanoes, an island arc, that extends from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula to northern Japan.

And just last week, Medvedev again stressed that Japan should be aware of "the South Kuril Islands are Russian territory. "

Mr Medvedev is the first Russian leader to set foot on the Kuril Islands.

This once again demonstrates the visit in the South Kuril Islands, Russia's hard-line stance on the issue.

This is the first visit by former Japanese foreign minister, "the four northern islands" , that Russia called "Southern Kuril Islands. "

Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) erupts in this picture taken from the International Space Station in June 2009.

Earthquake triggering by migrating slow slip initiated by M8 earthquake along Kuril Trench, Japan

Medvedev visit to Kuril Islands stokes Japan row