Russia's Putin Angers Japan with First Visit to Kuril Islands

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to the far-eastern Kuril Islands has sparked anger in Japan, which claims sovereignty over the territory. The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.

During his trip, Putin visited a fish-processing plant on Iturup Island (Etorofu in Japanese), one of the four disputed islands. The Soviet Union deported the islands' original Japanese population of approximately 17,000 people after their takeover. Today, the islands are inhabited by around 20,000 Russian citizens.

This long-standing territorial dispute remains a significant obstacle, preventing Russia and Japan from ever signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II. Relations between the two nations have further deteriorated following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed strong displeasure, stating, "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 Kuril archipelago holds strategic importance, and Russian leaders have seldom visited the islands, with former President Dmitry Medvedev being the first in 2010.

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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.