russian military sources said deputy defense minister bulgakov visited a miltry base on the island. last november, dmitry medvedev became the first russian leader to visit kunashiri, one of the islands held by russia and claimed by japan. recently four high-rinking officials visited the island. can you brief us on the visits? >> yes. last year, the first russian official of the former soviet union was the first to set foot on the island. they visited the mining processing plant. the following month in december, the deputy prime minister and prime minister putin visited the islands. he is the third highest-ranking official to visit the islands. >> what's the difference between bulgakov and the two former -- two previous official visits? >> yes. the russian government said medvedev and the other official's visit were for infrastructure development on the island. however, bulgakov apparently inspects the island to judge its strategic military occasion in the ocean. at the beginning of the war between japan and the united states in 1941, japan left the port on the island for pearl harbo