Russia will increase its military presence on the South Kuril Islands, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
"Everybody must understand that the South Kuril Islands are Russian territory," Medvedev said during a meeting with defense and regional development ministers.
"We will do everything we can to step up our strategic presence on the South Kuril Islands while developing friendly relations with our neighbors."
"There should be sufficient weaponry there to ensure the security of the islands as an unalienable part of Russia," he added.
GORKI, February 9 (RIA Novosti)