Putin visits disputed island, Japan lodges 'strong protest'

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island in the disputed Kuril Islands chain, according to state news agency TASS. The visit marked Putin's first in-person trip to the island chain and immediately drew a sharp rebuke from Japan.

Japan's foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a statement that the islands are "inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law" and that the government "strongly protests" Putin's visit.

During the visit, Putin toured the Yasny fish-processing plant on Iturup, where he sampled local fish roe. State media images showed him in a dark suit examining large tuna and halibut while officials discussed fishing and fish migration patterns.

The Kuril Islands are claimed by both Russia and Japan. Russia calls the island Iturup; Japan refers to it as Etorofu. The territorial dispute has been a major obstacle between the two nations for decades—it was the primary reason Moscow and Tokyo failed to sign a formal peace treaty after World War Two.