Japan-Russia row escalates

TOKYO - Japan called on Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday not to visit the Pacific Kuril Islands that are at the center of a territorial dispute, warning of damage to bilateral relations.

Japan's Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara warned that a presidential visit to the islands would "severely hurt ties", the Kyodo News agency reported.

Medvedev earlier called the four islands - which have been disputed between the two countries since the end of World War II - a "very important" part of Russia and announced plans to visit them "in the nearest future".