Russia"s Foreign Ministry rejected on Monday...

"It is evident that it is the Russian side that has reason for protest," the ministry statement said, calling Japan"s complaints "ungrounded and unacceptable."

The Russian coast guard said Sunday its border guards had first fired warning shots from a helicopter and then had to open direct fire at the Japanese fishing vessels on Friday when they refused to stop after entering Russia"s territorial waters off Kunashir Island.

The fishing boats returned to their port of Rausu with numerous bullet holes on their hulls, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. In its official protest on Sunday, Japan said that the border guards" actions could have resulted in the loss of life and were completely inappropriate.

Tokyo"s continued claim over four South Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities.

The four southern islands of the chain to the northeast

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