Japanese media is reporting that Russia plans to place missiles and combat helicopters on the shores of the disputed southern Kuril islands, located between Hokkaido, Japan and Kamchatka, Russia.
Several Japanese media quoted a Russian news agency source Wednesday, in which a high level Russian military official announced plans to set up a portable missile system equipped with supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles on the islands.
Currently the islands are under Russian jurisdiction, but Japan claims the southernmost two islands as part of its territory.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered more weapons to be sent to the islands back in February in order to guarantee their security.