calendar>>February 24. 2011 Juch 100

Russia Criticizes US over Kurils

Moscow, February 24 (KCNA) -- Recently, Russia summoned the U.S. ambassador to express its dissatisfaction at the U.S. rhetoric apparently supporting Japan in the 65-odd-year-long dispute between Russia and Japan over four islands in the Pacific.

Russia took issue with remarks made recently by authorities of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. embassy in Moscow supporting Japan in the dispute.

The four islands, called Kurils in Russia and northern territories in Japan, have remained under the jurisdiction of Russia since they were occupied by the Russian army at the end of the Second World War.