Ocupada por la Unión Soviética al cierre de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, las islas arrastran una historia de expulsiones y disputas.

The four southernmost islands of the chain also are claimed by Japan, which calls them the Northern Territories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island in the disputed Kuril Islands chain claimed by both Russia and Japan, state news agency TASS said on Thursday. The…