Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 13th (local time) made his first visit to the Kuril Islands (called the Northern Territories by Japan), a region disputed with Japan. Japan immediately protested.
According to Russia's state-run Tass news agency, Putin, who has been touring Siberia and the Far East since the 10th, visited Iturup (called Etorofu by Japan), one of the four islands in the Kurils, on this day.
Putin visited the Kurils the day after he said on the 12th, "We do not threaten Japan, and we make no territorial claims against Japan." It is seen as emphasizing that Russia effectively controls the Kurils.
He went on to say, "Japan failed to properly grasp the root cause of the situation in Ukraine and imposed unilateral sanctions on Russia," expressing displeasure that Japan, in its defense white paper earlier this month, designated Russia as a threat.
In response, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "The Northern Territories are Japan's inherent territory both historically and under international law, and we strongly protest this visit." She added, "President Putin's visit to the Kurils hurt the feelings of the Japanese people and made it difficult to restore relations between the two countries."
In 1945, Russia seized the Kuril Islands area, including the four islands of Kunashir (called Kunashiri by Japan), Iturup (called Etorofu by Japan), Habomai and Shikotan, and has stationed troops there since.