Russia has mounted a diplomatic offensive against Japan concerning the disputed four islands off Hokkaido claimed by both countries and held by Russia. Japan is hard put to take an effective counter move.
On Nov. 1, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashiri, one of the four Islands, becoming the first Russian leader to visit what Japan calls the northern territories. On Dec. 13, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's right-hand man, visited Kunashiri and Etorofu islands to inspect infrastructure development in the Kurils.
On Dec. 24, Mr. Medvedev said in an interview with Russia's three major TV channels that "all the South Kuril Islands are Russia's territory" and that Russia will not give them up. Japan protested against his remark, saying that the islands he referred to are an "integral part of Japan."