Dmitry Medvedev 'planning new visit to disputed Kurils'

The dispute over the islands has been going on since the end of World War II Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is said to be planning to visit more of the disputed Kuril Islands, despite growing anger from Japan. He became the first Russian leader to visit one of the four islands on Monday, prompting Tokyo to temporarily recall its Moscow ambassador. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Mr

[Scatterbrain]

In a country where Prime Minister Vladimir Putin usually enjoys the hardman reputation, some would say this Kurils trip is part of a Kremlin media strategy to toughen up the president's image ahead of an election here in 2012.