Japan condemns Putin’s first visit to disputed Kuril island
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands claimed by both Russia and Japan. His first reported in-person visit to the disputed chain drew a strong protest from Tokyo.
Putin travelled to the island on Thursday after overseeing major Russian naval exercises in the Far East. During his visit, Putin toured a fish-processing plant, where officials showed him local tuna and halibut and discussed fishing activity. Russian state television footage also showed the president sampling fish roe.
Putin later spoke with residents and remarked on the weather, comparing the island to a resort. A local woman responded jokingly that residents had arranged the weather for him.
The visit adds a political dimension to Putin’s Far East tour, which has already included military activity involving Russia’s Pacific Fleet.
Tokyo condemns visit to disputed territory
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a strong protest over Putin’s presence on Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan.
Motegi said Japan considers the island and the other Northern Territories to be Japanese territory based on both history and international law. Tokyo has long objected to Russian officials visiting the islands and has maintained its territorial claim since the end of World War II.
The dispute centres on four islands at the southern end of the Kuril chain: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai islets. Russia has controlled the territory since the final days of World War II, while Japan refers to the islands as its Northern Territories.
The territorial dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a formal peace treaty to fully settle the legacy of World War II. Relations have deteriorated further since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Japan joining Western sanctions against Moscow.
The timing gives the visit added significance for Japan, which is closely monitoring Russian and North Korean military cooperation as security tensions increase across the region.
