Putin’s first Iturup visit draws protest from Japan
Vladimir Putin’s first in-person visit to Japan-claimed Iturup drew a protest from Tokyo after Russian naval drills and a North Korean missile launch.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first in-person visit to Iturup, a Russian-administered island claimed by Japan, on Thursday (August 13), prompting a strong protest from Tokyo as military activity added to tensions across Northeast Asia.
Iturup lies northeast of Japan’s main northern island of Hokkaido. Russia administers it as part of the Kuril chain, while Japan calls it Etorofu and claims it as one of the four islands making up its Northern Territories.
Russian state news agency TASS described the trip as Putin’s first physical visit to the disputed island chain. The Russian leader travelled to Iturup after overseeing naval exercises in the country’s Far East.
The visit came one day after the Russian drills and a separate ballistic missile launch by North Korea, a close Russian ally, towards waters east of the Korean Peninsula.
Tokyo lodges strong protest
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested against Putin’s visit in a post on X, restating Japan’s sovereignty claim over the islands.
“The Northern Territories, including Etorofu, are inherently Japanese territory, both historically and under international law. Japan strongly protests this visit,” Motegi said.
Japan’s Northern Territories comprise Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands. Tokyo’s official position is that the four islands are Japanese territory and that their status must be resolved before a peace treaty can be concluded with Russia.
Moscow and Tokyo have never signed a formal peace treaty settling their Second World War relationship, with the territorial dispute remaining the central obstacle. Russia controls the islands, while Japan continues to demand their return.
Putin tours fish-processing plant
Putin visited the Yasny fish-processing plant during his trip to Iturup.
Footage broadcast by Russia’s Vesti TV showed him wearing a dark suit and examining two large tuna and a halibut laid out on a table. Two officials briefed him on fishing operations and fish migration patterns.
The Russian president also sampled locally produced fish roe.
During a conversation with residents, Putin compared the island’s pleasant weather to that of a resort. A woman who appeared to be in her 30s joked that residents had thought he had arranged it himself.
Visit follows regional military activity
Putin’s visit followed major Russian naval exercises in the Far East and North Korea’s missile launch on Wednesday (August 12).
Reuters described the North Korean weapon as a ballistic missile and did not identify it specifically as an intercontinental ballistic missile. It was fired towards waters off the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula.
The launch occurred several days before major joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned such drills, portraying them as a threat to North Korea.
