Japan expresses regret over Russian missile exercises in the Kurils
The Japanese government has expressed regret over Russia's missile exercises on the South Kuril island of Iturup, reported the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri.
After Russia notified Japan of the missile tests, Japan sent a corresponding statement expressing its regret through the Japanese Embassy in Moscow to the Russian authorities. Russia quickly dismissed Japan’s allegations. Japanese authorities also warned shipping companies and fishermen about the Russian exercises in the area.
On June 11, the Japanese government expressed regret that Russia laid a fiber-optic line on the South Kurils; construction on the line began on June 10. The line will be put into operation in 2019.
The dispute over the four Kuril Islands, which Tokyo considers its “northern territories,” complicates relations between Russia and Japan. Moscow claims that the islands became part of the Soviet Union following the Second World War and that Russian sovereignty over them is not subject to revision. Tokyo insists that the islands are Japanese territories. Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in December, but failed to reach an agreement on the disputed islands.