Russia's Putin Angers Japan with 1st Visit to Kuril Islands The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the disputed Kuril Islands has reignited tensions between Moscow and Tokyo, underscoring a long standing issue that has plagued bilateral relations for decades.
This is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a deeper pattern of behavior by the Kremlin in its dealings with Japan.
The Kuril Islands have been a source of contention since World War II, when the Soviet Union seized control of the archipelago, forcing the evacuation of thousands of Japanese residents.