Putin visits Island in Kuril chain claimed by Japan as its own

Putin visits disputed Iturup island, Japan protests

Mohan Sinha
14 Aug 2026, 00:36 GMT+10

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island claimed by Japan at the end of the Kuril chain near Hokkaido, Russian media reported on August 13.
Japan's foreign minister protested against Putin's visit on the social media platform X.
The visit came after North Korea, Russia's ally, fired a ballistic missile on August 12 towards waters off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

MOSCOW, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island claimed by Japan at the end of the Kuril chain near Hokkaido, Russian media reported on August 13. His visit came a day after major naval drills and a missile launch by Russia's ally North Korea.

Russia and Japan have never signed a formal peace treaty to officially end World War II. The main obstacle has been the unresolved territorial dispute over the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

During the visit, which state news agency TASS described as Putin's first in person to the island chain, he toured the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup after overseeing naval exercises in Russia's Far East.

Japan's foreign minister protested against Putin's visit on the social media platform X.

"The northern territories, including Etorofu, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and based on international law," said Toshimitsu Motegi. "Japan strongly protests this visit."

Images broadcast by Vesti TV showed Putin wearing a dark suit, standing in a room, and looking at two large tuna and halibut on a table. Two officials spoke to him about fishing and fish movement. He also stopped to try some local fish roe.

"What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!" Putin told a group of Iturup residents. "And we thought you arranged this!" a woman said in response.

The visit came after North Korea, Russia's ally, fired a ballistic missile on August 12 towards waters off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The launch took place days before major joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States, which Pyongyang has long condemned.