Japan is considering taking “some measure” against Russia after President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Iturup Island, a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Friday.
Putin visited the island on Thursday, marking his first trip to Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu. The island is part of the Russian-controlled Southern Kuril Islands, but Japan maintains that it is part of its Northern Territories.
The Japanese government strongly protested the visit, with Tokyo summoning Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev to express its opposition.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also reiterated that the disputed islands are an inherent part of Japanese territory, both historically and under international law.
A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Tokyo was considering what steps to take next. According to reports, an additional sanction against Russia could be among the measures under consideration.
The territorial dispute dates back to the end of World War II. Japan says the Soviet Union illegally seized the islands shortly after Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. Russia, however, maintains that the Soviet takeover was legitimate.
The disagreement has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a formal peace treaty to officially end their World War II hostilities.
Relations have deteriorated further in recent years following Japan’s sanctions against Moscow over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, China has also weighed in on the dispute.
Asked about Putin’s visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the outcomes of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War must be “earnestly respected and upheld.”
Guo urged Japan to respect the post-war international order established through agreements including the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation.
The latest developments add another layer of tension to relations between Japan, Russia and China, as Tokyo continues to defend its territorial claims while Moscow maintains control over the disputed islands.
