Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, triggering a sharp reaction in Tokyo. The Japanese side expressed strong protest, saying such a step offends the feelings of the Japanese people, reports infohub.kz.
According to information published on the Kremlin's website, during a working trip to Sakhalin Oblast, the head of state visited Iturup Island, where he toured the fish processing complex "Yasny." At the enterprise, he familiarized himself with production processes and talked with plant employees.
As RBC notes, this was the first visit by a Russian leader to the Kurils. The event immediately drew a negative reaction in Japan.
According to Nikkei, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the southern Kuril Islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup, and Habomai, which Tokyo calls the "northern territories," are "inherent territory of Japan." She emphasized that the Japanese side considers these islands its own both historically and under international law.
Takaichi also noted that Japan "strongly protests" Putin's visit and considers it incompatible with Tokyo's position on the territorial dispute. In her words, the Russian president's trip "offends the feelings of the Japanese people" and is "absolutely unacceptable." The prime minister recalled that Japan has repeatedly asked the Russian side to refrain from visiting the "northern territories." She expressed the view that after this visit, restoring relations between the two countries in the medium and long term will become more difficult.