Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed island of Iturup on Thursday, prompting a strong protest from Japan over territory that has remained at the centre of a decades-long dispute between Moscow and Tokyo.
Russian state media described the trip as Putin’s first in-person visit to the Kuril island chain, which stretches towards Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Japan calls Iturup Etorofu and considers it part of its Northern Territories.
The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty ending World War Two.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested Putin’s visit, reiterating Tokyo’s claim to the islands.
“The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and based on international law,” Motegi said on X. “Japan strongly protests this visit.”
Putin travelled to Iturup after overseeing Russian naval exercises in the country’s Far East. During his visit, he toured the Yasny fish-processing plant, where officials briefed him on local fishing operations and fish migration.
Russian television footage showed Putin examining tuna and halibut and sampling locally produced fish roe. He also met residents of the island.
The visit comes amid heightened military activity in Northeast Asia. A day earlier, North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards waters east of the Korean Peninsula, ahead of major joint military exercises planned by South Korea and the United States.
Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned the US-South Korean exercises, portraying them as preparations for military confrontation.