Japan PM condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril islands as ‘unacceptable’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit to disputed Kuril island has drawn strong response from Japan.

Japan prime minister Sanae Takaichi has condemned Putin's visit to the Kuril islands, calling it “absolutely unacceptable.”

Talking to reporters, Takaichi said, “Putin’s trip has worsened Japanese sentiment towards Russia,” while maintaining that “Northern Territories are Japanese territory historically and under international law.”

Japan’s foreign minister foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi also slammed the Russian president’s visit, stating “the Government of Japan strongly protests their visits.”

According to Russian state media, Putin visited Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan which is one of four islands in the Kuril chain. During his visit, he met with local residents and sampled local delicacies, including fish roe.

Both countries have their claims over Kuril islands and the islands have been disputed because both countries, Russia and Japan did not sign a peace treaty after WWII.

The Kuril Islands are located between Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. It is a strategic archipelago administered by Moscow but claimed in part by Tokyo, which refers to the four southernmost islands as the Northern Territories.

On Wednesday, Russian president during a briefing as reported by TASS state media also accused Japan of imposing unprovoked sanctions on Russia. He claimed Japan has designated Moscow as a source of major threat but we do not threaten Japan and have no claims against it.