A decades-old dispute has returned to the spotlight after a visit that Tokyo says challenges its territorial claims and could trigger a tougher response.
Japan is considering possible measures in response to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup, one of the disputed islands that Tokyo considers part of its Northern Territories.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry said it was considering further steps following the Russian leader’s trip. One option could be new sanctions against Russia.
We are considering what steps to take next.
– senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official
Japan protests Putin’s visit to Iturup
Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi lodged a protest with Russia over Vladimir Putin’s first visit to Iturup.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also condemned Putin’s trip to the Japanese island. He called the visit a provocation and expressed Ukraine’s solidarity with Japan.
Which islands Japan calls its Northern Territories
Japan includes Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai among its Northern Territories. In 2022, the Japanese government once again described these islands as “illegally occupied” in its annual diplomatic reference book, the Diplomatic Bluebook.
Putin’s visit to Iturup has intensified the long-standing territorial dispute between Tokyo and Moscow and prompted Japan to discuss its further response.