TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said Monday that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to disputed isle "hurts Japanese public sentiment".  

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Maehara made the remarks at a meeting of the budget committee of the lower house in response to a question concerning Medvedev's visit to Kunashiri Island, one of the Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

Also at the meeting, Prime Minister Naoto Kan asserted that the islands are Japanese territory and described Russian president's move as "extremely deplorable", while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said that Japan is to decide what steps it will take after checking the president's remarks.

Local media reported that Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island Monday. He has thus become the first leader from Russia or the former Soviet Union to set foot on any of the islands off Hokkaido, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia.