MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The publication of maps in Japan marking the Southern Kuril islands as part of Japan is "quite natural," said Akira Imamura, a minister at the Japanese Embassy in Russia.
"We consider these four islands to be part of Japan. Naturally, they are marked in the map as part of Japan," Imamura said at a press briefing in Moscow.
Russia has expressed "surprise" at the release of geographical maps in Japan showing the Southern Kurils as part of Japan.