Putin's First Visit to Kuril Islands Sparks Japanese Protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, sparking a strong protest from Japan, which claims the islands as its own territory. Putin's visit to Iturup Island, the largest of the southern Kuril Islands, was met with a resolute protest from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which reaffirmed its territorial rights to the islands. The visit comes amidst an ongoing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan, which has prevented the signing of a peace treaty following World War II.