Kuril Islands dispute

The Kuril Islands with Russian names. Borders of Shimoda Treaty (1855) and Treaty of St. Petersburg (1875) shown in red. Since 1945 all islands northeast of Hokkaido have been administered by Russia.

Disputed islands in question: Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri (Kunashir) and Etorofu (Iturup)

The Kuril Islands dispute is a territorial disagreeent between Japan and Russia over the Kuril Islands. The Japanese government is asking for the restoration of sovereignty over Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island, and the Habomai subgroup, which are under the control of Russia since 1945, after Japan lost World War Two.

Kuril Islands Dispute Media

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  Southern Kuril islands seen from the International Space Station

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  A 1939 map of the Pacific Rim. Dates shown indicate approximate time that the various powers gained control of their possessions.

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  Japanese Iturup residents (then called Etorofu) and a Buddhist temple (before 1939)

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  Agreement regarding entry of the Soviet Union into the war against Japan

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  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met local residents in Yuzhno-Kurilsk, 1 November 2010.

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  Poster about the Kuril Islands dispute in Sapporo, Hokkaido, 2012

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  A Japanese installation at the Kuril island viewpoint in Cape Nosappu with details and claims regarding the disputed Kuril islands

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  Japanese people visiting their family graves on Tanfiliev Island (Suishō-jima), one of the Habomai Islands, 2008

Other websites

• The history of the Kuril Islands dispute- Sputnik News