Putin's Kuril Island Visit Draws Sharp Rebuke From Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island in the Kuril chain on Thursday, a move that drew immediate and sharp condemnation from Japan. The island, known as Iturup in Russia and Etorofu in Japan, is one of four territories seized by Moscow at the end of World War Two. Japan has long claimed these islands, and their return is a condition for signing a formal peace treaty between the two nations.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," stating that it "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people." She urged Russia to take the matter seriously. The visit comes at a time when bilateral ties are already strained over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Japan has condemned and answered with sanctions.

The trip also coincides with heightened regional tensions. It follows Russian naval drills in the Far East and a North Korean missile launch into the sea separating it from Japan, just ahead of joint military exercises by Seoul and Washington. The visit occurs two days before Japan marks the 81st anniversary of its surrender in World War Two.

State media reported this was Putin's first visit to the island chain. During his trip, he inspected a fish-processing plant and spoke with locals. Images showed him examining large fish and tasting local roe. In a lighthearted moment, he commented on the pleasant weather, comparing it to a resort.

In a related development, the Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan issued a joint statement opposing attempts to revise the results of World War Two and warning against re-militarisation in the Asia-Pacific, language that aligns with Moscow's rejection of Japan's territorial claims. The first Russian leader to visit the disputed territory was Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.