Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup, an island claimed by Japan at the southern end of the Kuril chain near Hokkaido, Russian state media reported on Thursday.
The visit came a day after Russia conducted major naval exercises in its Far East and North Korea, a Russian ally, launched a ballistic missile towards waters off the Korean Peninsula.
The territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands remains one of the main obstacles to Russia and Japan formally concluding a World War II peace treaty.
Japan refers to the disputed islands as the Northern Territories and maintains that they are Japanese territory.
According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, the visit marked Putin’s first in-person trip to the island chain. During his visit to Iturup, Putin toured the Yasny fish-processing plant after overseeing naval exercises in Russia’s Far East.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested the visit in a post on X, reiterating Tokyo’s claim over the territory.
“The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and based on international law,” Motegi said, adding that Japan “strongly protests this visit.”
Images broadcast by Russian television channel Vesti showed Putin wearing a dark suit and examining two large fish, identified as tuna and halibut, displayed on a table while officials briefed him on fishing activities and fish migration.
Putin also sampled locally produced fish roe during the visit.
Speaking to residents on Iturup, Putin commented on the island’s weather, joking that it resembled a resort.
“What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!” Putin told residents.
The visit followed a ballistic missile launch by North Korea on Wednesday. The missile was fired towards waters east of the Korean Peninsula, days before planned joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.
Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned the annual US-South Korean military exercises, describing them as preparations for an attack.
Putin’s visit and the surrounding military activity come as Russia strengthens its presence in the Far East, while tensions involving Japan, North Korea and South Korea continue to shape the region’s security environment.
