Japanese citizens are being advised on how to survive a nuclear attack as tensions mount with Russia over the deployment of missiles on disputed Pacific islands.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has branded the move by Moscow 'deplorable'.

The coastal defence missiles have been moved to two of the four islands which have been at the heart of tensions between the two countries since the end of the Second World War.

The flashpoint has come after a close Putin ally threatened to target Russian nuclear weapons on NATO countries if the alliance seeks to expand its sway in Europe.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has branded Russia 'deplorable' for moving missiles to disputed islands in the Pacific

The coastal defence missiles have been moved to two of the four islands known as the Northern Territories in Japan

Now pamphlets advising people what to do in the event of an attack have been made available - with people urged to head to underground shopping centres.

Following the end of the Second World War, Soviet troops seized the southernmost islands in the Kuril chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, that lies off the northeast coast of Hokkaido.

The countries have not signed a peace treaty formally ending wartime hostilities, and the dispute has hindered trade and investment.

'The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory,' Abe told parliament today.

Following the end of the Second World War, Soviet troops seized the southernmost islands in the Kuril chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, that lies off the northeast coast of Hokkaido

Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on December 15, when they will discuss the territorial dispute

Abe said Japan had told Russia the deployment 'is deplorable' and 'is contradictory to Japan's position' on the issue.

However, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday the missile deployment was aimed at the 'consistent strengthening of national security'.

'Missile systems were deployed to the southern Kurils in line with that position,' she said, calling them 'an integral part of Russian territory'.

The remarks came ahead of a December 15 meeting between Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Yamaguchi city in western Japan, which is aimed at making progress on the territorial dispute.

The two leaders have met several times since Abe took office in December 2012, most recently last Sunday in Peru on the sidelines of a Pacific-rim summit.

Abe and Putin are set to meet next month, when they will discuss the decades-old dispute over the Pacific islands

Tensions with Japan have heightened at a time when concerns are increased over Russia's relationship with NATO.

This week Putin ally Franz Klintsevich, 59, a senator and leading member of the Kremlin strongman's United Russia Party, warned a modern Cuban missile crisis could be on the way to Europe.

The Kremlin claimed his views were 'understandable' but stressed it was Putin personally who decided Russia's policy on targeting enemies.

'Russia will deliver a hard and clear response to NATO's aggressive actions, the alliance's attempts to draw into its orbit yet more countries,' said hardline legislator Klintsevich.

'We shall train our weapons, including nuclear ones, on any alliance facilities threatening us, wherever they may be deployed.'

Klintsevich was speaking as deputy chairman of the Russian senate's Defence and Security Committee at a time of rising tension between Moscow and the West.