Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan

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Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a territory claimed by Japan, triggering strong protests from Tokyo. The visit exacerbates longstanding tensions between Russia and Japan over the disputed islands seized in 1945.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting a “strong” protest by Japan which also claims the territory. Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by tensions over the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The Kremlin posted a video of Putin in the Kuril Islands, with Russian media saying he visited a fish-processing plant where he was given caviar. Putin...