Changes

The Kurils once belonged to [[Russia]], but were under Japanese control at the time of [[World War II]].  Russia seized them from Japan after the end of the WWII, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute, and Japan has refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the Kurils and [[Sakhalin]]. Kuril Islands were first occupied by the natives that have lived there for more than a century under the once Soviet Union's rule. In time the islands came under the Japanese control as they first overtook the South end of the islands and came to the North end of the islands. The Japanese considers the Kuril Islands to be their most northern part of their territory, while the Russian sees it as their opportunity to expand their military bases to the South.

The Kurils once belonged to [[Russia]], but were under Japanese control at the time of [[World War II]].  Russia seized them from Japan after the end of the WWII, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute, and Japan has refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the Kurils and [[Sakhalin]]. Kuril Islands were first occupied by the natives that have lived there for more than a century under the once Soviet Union's rule. In time the islands came under the Japanese control as they first overtook the South end of the islands and came to the North end of the islands. The Japanese considers the Kuril Islands to be their most northern part of their territory, while the Russian sees it as their opportunity to expand their military bases to the South.

== Bibliography: ==

== Bibliography: ==