Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed Japanese protests over his visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

Medvedev said in a statement on the Russian government’s Web site Thursday that he will have Russian government officials visit the islands on a regular basis regardless of Japan’s protest.

Japan strongly protested Medvedev’s visit to the southernmost island "Kunashir" on Tuesday by calling in the Russian ambassador to Japan.

Moscow and Tokyo have been at odds over the territory since the Soviet Union seized the contested islands at the end of World War Two.