Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano expressed deep regret on Friday over the visit of a Russian defense ministry commission to one of the disputed South Kuril Islands.
"This move is not in line with Japan's position and causes us deep regret," Edan said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting.
A commission from the Russian defense ministry, led by Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov, is visiting the islands of Iturup and Kunashir from January 19-23 to inspect Russia's only machine gun and artillery division.
Both Japan and Russia have laid claims to four of the islands since they were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The dispute over the islands has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev infuriated Japan in November, 2010, when he became the first Russian or Soviet head of state to visit one of the islands.
Edan reiterated the importance of dialogue between Russia and Japan on the long-standing territorial dispute.
"It is important that both countries negotiate to resolve the territorial issue in a peaceful atmosphere," said Edan, who represents his country's interests in the Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan.
TOKYO, January 21 (RIA Novosti)
