Japan Once Again Protests Against Russian Officials' Visits to Kurils

© Sputnik / Dmitry Astakhov / Go to the mediabankPrime Minister Medvedev visits Far Eastern Federal District. Kuril Islands
Prime Minister Medvedev visits Far Eastern Federal District. Kuril Islands - Sputnik International
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On Monday, Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov visited two of the Kuril Islands, Iturup and Kunashir, where he inspected transport infrastructure.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Japan is closely monitoring the visits of Russian officials to the southern Kuril Islands in the Russian Far East, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"With regard to the visit of the Russian transport minister and other dignitaries in the northern areas, it does not coincide with the position of our country. Regarding the visit of the Transport Minister on September 7, we handed in a protest note. We closely monitor such movements from the Russian side," the Japanese minister said.

View of Iturup island - Sputnik International
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No Problem! Moscow Says Kuril Islands Not an Issue, Tokyo Furious
The four Kuril Islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai — have been administered by Russia since the end of World War II, but Japan still lays claim to them.

Kishida urged Russia to take a "constructive stance" on the matter.

On Monday, Japan's Foreign Ministry claimed that the Russian transport minister's visit to the Kuril Islands was "unacceptable."

Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also visited Iturup last month.

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