Putin's Visit to the Kuril Islands Sparks Tensions Over 'Northern Territories' with Japan

President Vladimir Putin's first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday sparked controversy between Tokyo, which deemed it "offensive to the Japanese people," and Moscow, which described the criticism as "unfounded."

Tensions between Russia and Japan have long been strained over this dispute concerning the islands known in Japan as the "Northern Territories," which were occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945.

The Kremlin released a video of Putin in the Kuril Islands, while Russian media reported he visited a fish processing plant where caviar was served to him.

In Sakhalin, the 73-year-old Putin held a meeting "on ensuring the security of Russia's eastern border," according to Ria Novosti news agency.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the Russian president's "unacceptable" visit to the islands, calling it an "insult to the feelings of the Japanese people," she said.

She told reporters the visit "contradicts Japan's firm position on the Northern Territories," which Tokyo considers "an integral part of Japanese territory, both historically and under international law."

In contrast, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated in a statement: "We firmly reject these remarks, which we see as politically inappropriate, insulting, and, of course, legally unfounded."

Zakharova noted that Japan's stance reflects a "Russia-hostile policy bordering on hostility," pointing out that sovereignty over the Kuril Islands "was transferred to (Russia) after World War II, in accordance with agreements with the Allied powers and the United Nations Charter."

She accused Japanese officials of "arrogantly presuming they can dictate to the Russian president which areas within his own country he may or may not visit," as she put it.

Additionally, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan, Nikolai Nuzdriv, on Thursday to deliver a "strong protest" over the surprise visit.

The ministry said Motegi informed the ambassador during their meeting that Putin’s visit would have "a very negative impact on Japan-Russia relations," already strained due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Conversely, the Russian embassy in Japan stated the ambassador emphasized that the islands "are an inseparable part of the Russian Federation," and their status "is beyond question," affirming that Putin’s visit "is not subject to discussion with foreign countries."

Ukraine War Sanctions

Tensions between Japan and Russia—countries that fought a war in 1904–1905—have intensified since the large-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022, when Japan joined the G7 in imposing sanctions on Russia and provided financial support and defensive military aid to Kyiv.

On Wednesday, Putin described the Japanese sanctions as "unjustified."

He said, "Japan regards Russia as a primary source of threats. I would like to point out that we do not threaten Japan... On the contrary, it is Japan that has territorial claims against our country."

In contrast, relations between Russia and China have strengthened, with their naval and air forces conducting joint exercises in areas surrounding Japan frequently, prompting Japanese fighter jets to carry out hundreds of intercept missions annually.

This comes as North Korea has also sent military personnel and artillery shells to support Russia’s efforts in the war against Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang stated that enhancing Tokyo’s military capabilities "turns it into a war state."

Harsh Climate, Few Inhabitants

The Soviet Union took control of the strategically important volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido in the final days of World War II, and has maintained a military presence there ever since.

In 2010, Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian president to visit the disputed territories.

The four contested islands are part of the Kuril volcanic archipelago, stretching across a vast area from the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula to Hokkaido, the largest northern island of Japan.

About 20,000 Russian citizens live on these islands in a harsh climate, though the region holds mineral wealth including gold and silver, along with rich fishing grounds.

After the islands were occupied in 1945, Moscow relocated nearly 17,000 Japanese residents.

Since then, the islands have gained strategic importance, serving as air and naval bases during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, with Japan being Washington’s closest ally in the Pacific Ocean.

At various times, intermittent talks between Tokyo and Moscow appeared to make progress; in 1956, when diplomatic relations were established between the two nations, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev proposed returning two of the disputed islands as part of a peace treaty.

Despite resuming negotiations after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, no progress has been achieved,"