Changes

== History ==

== History ==

The Kurils once completely belonged to [[Russia]], but Japan began to control parts of the islands from the South by the year 1855. During [[World War II]] the Japanese supposedly thought they may have overtook all of the islands. Russia then seized them from Japan after the end of the WWII, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute. Japan refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the territories, especially [[Sakhalin]]. The Kuril Islands were first occupied by the natives most of whom are the Russians that have lived there for more than a century under the once Soviet Union's rule. In time the islands came under the Japanese's radar as they first sought an opputunity to overtake the South end of the islands and began occupying it, as they do the same towards the North. But the Russians did not back down. The Russians reoccupied the islands and Kuril Islands was added as part of the Yalta Agreement of 1945. The Japanese considers the Kuril Islands to be their most northern part of their territory, while the Russian sees Kuril Islands as a window of opportunity to expand their military bases towards the South.

The Kurils once completely belonged to [[Russia]], but Japan began to control parts of the islands from the South by the year 1855. During [[World War II]] the Japanese supposedly thought they overtook all of the islands. Russia then seized them from Japan after the end of the WWII, but sovereignty over parts of the islands remains in dispute. Japan refused to sign a formal peace treaty with Russia because of disputes over the territories, especially [[Sakhalin]]. The Kuril Islands were first occupied by the natives most of whom are the Russians that have lived there for more than a century under the once Soviet Union's rule. In time the islands came under the Japanese's radar as they first sought an opputunity to overtake the South end of the islands and began occupying it, as they do the same towards the North. But the Russians did not back down. The Russians reoccupied the islands and Kuril Islands was added as part of the Yalta Agreement of 1945. The Japanese considers the Kuril Islands to be their most northern part of their territory, while the Russian sees Kuril Islands as a window of opportunity to expand their military bases towards the South.

== Bibliography: ==

== Bibliography: ==