Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting a protest from Japan.
Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, citing the Kremlin press service, reported on August 13 that Putin had completed his first working trip to the Kuril Islands and spent the entire working day on Iturup.
Putin visited the Yasny fish-processing complex, tasted different types of caviar and took some of the delicacy with him. He also toured the Kuril Central Hospital and a local school, and met with Iturup residents and took photos with them.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested Putin’s visit, saying that the Northern Territories, including Iturup, are historically and legally inherent territories of Japan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
Japan claims four Russian-controlled islands – Iturup, Shikotan, Kunashir and the Habomai Islands – which it calls the Northern Territories
