Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed island of Iturup near Japan on Thursday, a move that has drawn a strong reaction from Tokyo.
Japan has condemned Putin’s move, saying that such actions will make it more difficult to improve relations between the two countries.
The island, called “Iturup” in Russia and “Iturufo” in Japan, is one of four islands in the Kuril chain that Russia captured in the final days of World War II.
Japan still claims ownership of the islands and considers their return a key condition for signing a formal peace treaty with Russia.
