Japan's Foreign Ministry lodges strong protest over Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island

Japan's Foreign Ministry has expressed a strong protest regarding Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands, which Tokyo considers unacceptable. This is his first personal visit to the islands.

Putin arrived on Iturup after observing the final stage of exercises by the Pacific Fleet from the deck of the missile cruiser 'Varyag'. On the island, he held a meeting on the security of eastern borders and visited the Yasnaya fish processing plant.