Russia has held an anti-landing military drill in its Far East region, close to a set of islands at the center of a dispute with Japan.
Russia's defense ministry says it's deployed more than 1,000 soldiers and a range of heavy weaponry, including tanks, the Sukhoi series fighter jets, and multiple-rocket launchers.
Meanwhile Russia's Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov has visited one of disputed islands, drawing protests from Japan.
Both Russia and Japan claim sovereignty over the Pacific islands, which are known as the Southern Kurils in Russia, and the Northern Territories in Japan. They are currently under Russian control.