Russia's Putin visits Japan-claimed islands for first time; Tokyo protests
TOKYO — Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido, Russian media said on Thursday, a day after major naval drills and a missile firing by ally North Korea. Moscow and Tokyo never signed a formal World War Two peace treaty as the main hurdle was the unresolved territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan…
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first in-person visit to Iturup, a disputed island in the Kuril chain claimed by Japan, on Thursday, according to Russian media. The visit occurred just a day after major naval drills and a missile launch by North Korea's ally, Russia. The long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the islands, which Japan names the Northern Territories, has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty following World War Two.
Russian state news agency TASS described Putin's trip as his first visit to the island chain, during which he toured the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup and oversaw naval exercises in Russia's eastern region.
Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, expressed strong protests against Putin's visit via social media platform X. Motegi emphasized that the northern territories, including Etorofu, are an inherent part of Japan, both historically and according to international law. Motegi stated that Japan strongly protests this visit. Visuals from the Vesti TV channel showed Putin dressed in a dark suit, standing in a room surrounded by two large tuna and halibut on a table, as two officials discussed fishing and the migratory patterns of fish. Putin also reportedly stopped to observe the fish on display during his brief visit to the plant.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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