Japan protests Putin’s visit to disputed islands

Japan publicly denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to the Kuril Islands on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo declared that the islands, referred to by Japan as the Northern Territories, are "inherently Japanese territory." The statement followed Russian state media reporting that Putin had paid a visit to Iturup, also known as Etorofu, the first such visit by the Russian leader.

According to the Kremlin, Putin toured a fish-processing plant, a hospital, and a school on the island. Iturup is one of the four southernmost Kuril Islands, disputed by both Russia and Japan and currently under Russian control. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, commenting on social media platform X, countered that the islands have always been, remain, and will continue to be Russian land, with anyone challenging this assertion facing dire consequences.

Russian officials, including Medvedev, have visited the island. The Russian embassy in Japan announced on Telegram that the ambassador had received an invitation to talks at Japan's Foreign Ministry, where Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed protest over the Russian visit. The ambassador also asserted that the southern Kurils are an integral part of Russia.

The territorial dispute over the islands has long strained relations between Japan and Russia. The Kuril Islands, a fish-rich archipelago in the Pacific, were seized by the Soviet Union from Japan at the end of World War II.