Russia's Medvedev orders additional weapons deployed to islands disputed with Japan

From SunSentinel and @mijadedios: 

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will send more weapons to its islands in north Pacific, President Dmitry Medvedev announced Wednesday — a mere two days after Japan again demanded that Russia return several islands it has held since the end of World War II.

The disagreement over the southern Kuril islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, has long been a sticking point between the two countries. It also has kept them from signing a formal peace treaty ending their World War II hostilities.

Medvedev told Cabinet ministers that Russia must strengthen its presence there and that the new weapons will protect the islands as an "inalienable part of Russia."