Russia to boost military presence on Kuril Islands

Russia has decided to boost its military presence on its eastern coast by building new compounds on the Kuril Islands that are the subject of a territorial dispute with neighboring Japan.

Sergei Surovikov, the commander of Russia’s Far Eastern Military District, said Friday that more than 150 military facilities are to be built on Iturup and Kunashir, which are part of the Kuril Islands in the North Pacific Ocean.

Surovikov added that the constructions are scheduled to be completed before 2016.

In addition, the Russian commander said troops deployed on the two islands would receive additional equipment.

This is while relations between Russia and Japan have been overshadowed for decades by a persisting territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands, which include the isles of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.

The four disputed islands were occupied by the former Soviet Union forces at the conclusion of World War II but still claimed by Japan.

Moscow and Tokyo have never signed a permanent peace treaty following the end of World War II because of the dispute over the islands, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories.