Japan again designated the South Kuril Islands (Tokyo calls them “Northern Territories”) in its Diplomacy Blue Book as “illegally occupied by Russia”. It is reported by RBC with reference to a document published on the website of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Last April, in the same Blue Book, Japan called the South Kuriles “occupied” for the first time in 19 years.
We are talking about the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and the Khabomai ridge.
“The northern territories under Japanese sovereignty are the original Japanese territories that are now under the illegal occupation of Russia,” the text of the Blue Book reads.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry also called the problem of ownership of these territories “the most serious unresolved issue of Japanese-Russian relations” and criticized Moscow for the decision to stop negotiations with Tokyo on the issue of a peace treaty.
In March last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow did not intend to continue negotiations with Tokyo on a peace treaty because of the “unfriendly nature of the unilateral restrictions imposed by Japan against Russia.” Then, in response to the military operation in Ukraine, Japan imposed sanctions against Russia. Moscow also stopped visa-free trips of the Japanese to the Kuriles and withdrew from the dialogue on establishing joint economic activities on the islands. Last February, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government was firmly committed to resolving the territorial issue and concluding a peace treaty.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
