Putin visits disputed Kuril Island Iturup for first time; Japan protests

Published Aug 13, 06:46 AM UTC

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Island Iturup on August 13, 2026, marking his first personal trip to the disputed island group. Japan claims the islands, referred to as the Northern Territories, as inherent Japanese territory under international law. The visit escalated the long-standing territorial conflict between the two countries, which have never signed a formal peace treaty since World War II. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi protested strongly on social media, asserting Japan's sovereignty. The visit followed Putin's oversight of naval exercises in the Russian Far East and occurred a day after North Korea launched a ballistic missile, adding regional tension ahead of joint US-South Korea military exercises.

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