Medvedev to Visit Pacific Islands Claimed by Japan

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to visit the Kuril Islands, saying they are “a very important part” of the country and defying Japanese calls to avoid exacerbating a territorial dispute dating from World War II.

Medvedev, who is returning from a three-day state visit to China, said plans to fly to the islands this week were delayed by bad weather. Japanese government officials have said a visit to the region, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia, could damage relations.