Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has made a repeat trip to one of four islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, prompting Japan to complain to Russia's ambassador in Tokyo.

Mr. Medvedev visited the island of Kunashir, which is in the island chain Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories. He pledged to strengthen the island's infrastructure and investment in local business.

It was Mr. Medvedev's second visit to the island chain, which Russia seized from Japan at the end of World War Two. Both countries insist they own the land. Continued tensions over the territory prevented Moscow and Tokyo from ever signing a peace treaty after the war.

After the Russian leader's visit Tuesday, Japan's foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan to complain. Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said the Medvedev visit puts further strain on bilateral relations.

The islands are believed to hold gold and silver deposits, and the surrounding waters are rich fishing grounds.

Mr. Medvedev's first visit to the islands, in 2010 while he was president, was the first-ever visit to the islands by a Russian leader and sparked outrage in Tokyo.

1. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

“As to the question about (Russian prime minister) Dmitry Medvedev's trip to the Kurils, there is nothing to comment on here. The chairman of the Russian Federation's government was on yet another trip in his own country where he handled issues of accelerating social and economic development in this most important strategic region of the Russian Federation.”

2. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

“Our Japanese neighbours are well informed about Russia's stance on this issue. We do not hide it, but set it out in detail in the course of the contacts that we conduct on the peace treaty issue.”

3.SOUNDBITE (Russian) Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of Russia:

“The purpose of the Far East is not just to oppose the enemies and secure order on the borders. (++cutaway local officials listening++). Its purpose is also to attract investment, that is, to receive additional sources for development and increase the revenue base of the territory.”

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER DMITRY

MEDVEDEV (ADDRESSING LOCAL WORKER), SAYING:

“This is our native land, we will not give away an

inch, absolutely. Why should we? The one who gives away

even a small part of his land usually provokes a

thunderstorm, this all ends with a collapse of the state,

it is a very dangerous thing.''

2. (SOUNDBITE) LOCAL WORKER, NO NAME GIVEN, STANDING NEXT

TO MEDVEDEV, SAYING:

“I completely agree with you, and all the people agree

with you.''

MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 3, 2012) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI

LAVROV, SAYING:

“The chairman of the government of Russian Federation

was doing another tour of his country, where he was engaged

in solving the issues of accelerating the social-economic

development of this important strategic region of the

Russian Federation.''

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI

LAVROV SAYING:

“Our Japanese neighbours are fully aware of Russia's

position (on the Kurile Islands issue), we do not hide it,

and we set it out in the course of our contacts on peace

agreement, which are continuing.''

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI

LAVROV SAYING:

“We need to move towards peace agreement not through

protests revolving with or without a reason, but complying

with the agreements reached on the top level between the

leaders of Russian Federation and Japan on developing a

deep interaction in all spheres of bilateral cooperation

and international affairs.''

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN'S CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY

OSAMU FUJIMURA SAYING:

“When talking about this in terms of Japan-Russia

relations, a visit by a Russian dignitary to the Northern

territories is something that is in conflict with the

stance that we have in regards to the territories and

Russia should be well aware of this. At this point however,

the Russian government is taking a different course of

action.''