Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Japan Lodges Strong Protest Over ‘Northern Territories’
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, August 13, prompting a strong protest from Japan, which maintains that the islands are part of its territory under its historical claims and international law.
According to footage released by the Kremlin, Putin visited a fish processing plant during his trip to the islands.
Japan Calls Islands Its ‘Northern Territories’
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi strongly objected to Putin’s visit, reiterating Tokyo’s position that the disputed islands, known in Japan as the “Northern Territories”, belong to Japan.
The territorial dispute has remained a major source of tension between Moscow and Tokyo. Relations have deteriorated further since Russia launched its war in Ukraine in 2022, while Russia has strengthened ties with China and North Korea.
81-Year-Old Dispute Dates Back To World War II
The territorial dispute dates back to the final days of World War II, when the Soviet Union occupied the islands in 1945.
Japan says the Soviet occupation of the islands followed Moscow’s declaration of war against Japan on August 8, 1945, shortly before the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
The four islands at the centre of the dispute are known in Russia as Kunashir, Habomai, Shikotan and Iturup, while Japan refers to them as Kunashiri, Habomai, Shikotan and Etorofu.
Strategic And Economic Importance
The Kuril Islands form a long chain of volcanic islands stretching between Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido.
Around 20,000 Russian residents live on the four disputed islands. Despite their harsh climate, the region is considered strategically important and is rich in natural resources, including gold and silver. The surrounding waters are also known for their abundant fish stocks.
Soviet Occupation Forced Thousands To Leave
After taking control of the islands in 1945, the Soviet Union expelled around 17,000 Japanese residents.
During the Cold War, Moscow established air and naval bases in the region, strengthening its military presence in the Pacific and its position opposite Japan and its US ally.
Putin’s latest visit is therefore likely to further strain already tense relations between Russia and Japan, with Tokyo continuing to press its territorial claim over the disputed islands.
