Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands, a group of islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, on Thursday. This visit has prompted a strong protest from Japan, which considers the islands an inherent part of its territory both historically and under international law. The Kremlin posted a video of Putin in the Kuril Islands, where he visited a fish-processing plant and was given caviar.
Historical Context
The Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. This action has long been a source of tension between Russia and Japan. The Soviet Union took the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido in the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there ever since.
Recent Developments
Putin's visit to the Kurils follows his trip to the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills. In Sakhalin, Putin held a meeting on ensuring the security of Russia's eastern borders. Japan, whose ties with Russia have worsened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, objected strongly to the visit.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated, 'The Northern Territories... are an inherent part of Japan's territory both historically and under international law, and the government of Japan strongly protests this visit.' The islands, which include Kunashir, Habomai, Shikotan, and Iturup in Russian, and Kunashiri, Habomai, Shikotan, and Etorofu in Japanese, have a population of about 20,000 Russian citizens and are rich in mineral deposits and fishing grounds.
