Japan expresses protest to Russia over shooting near Iturup

The Japanese government has expressed protest to Russia through diplomatic channels because of the firing practice, which, according to the Japanese side, is being held in the waters near Iturup Island from February 16 to 28, Report informs referring to TASS.

The Russian side notified the Japanese authorities in advance about the upcoming firing. “We consider it unacceptable to increase the military presence [of the Russian Federation] on the four northern islands,” Kyodo News reports.

Moscow and Tokyo have been holding consultations for many decades in order to develop a peace treaty following the Second World War. The parties disagree on the rights to the southern part of the Kuriles. After the end of the war, the entire archipelago was included in the Soviet Union, but Japan disputes the ownership of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and a group of adjacent small uninhabited islands.