Russia Building Military Facilities on Islands Disputed with Japan

Moscow, Dec. 1 (Jiji Press)--Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday said his country is building cutting-edge military facilities on two of the four northwestern Pacific islands disputed with Japan, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The facilities are expected to boost Russia's military preparedness in the country's Far East, Shoigu was quoted as saying at a ministry meeting. The two Russian-held islands off the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido are Etorofu and Kunashiri. In July and October, Shoigu referred to a plan to build military facilities on the Kuril island chain, which includes the four northwestern Pacific islands, by the end of this year. It is unusual for him to mention any specific names of islands where military facility construction projects are progressing, informed sources said. By highlighting the importance of the two islands from a military viewpoint, Russia apparently aims to weaken Japan's stance of claiming sovereignty over the four islands, the sources said. The minister announced the construction of 392 facilities, including apartments for military personnel and their families as well as school and cultural facilities. END