Russian President Vladimir Putin ⁠on Thursday visited an island claimed by Japan, drawing a protest by Tokyo.

Putin visited the disputed island known as Iturup in Russia and Etorofu in Japan after he attended the final stage of the Pacific Fleet drills in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

It's part of the island chain called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia.

It was Putin's first trip to the island chain that has been under Russian control since 1945.

He visited a fish-processing plant and was given caviar, according to Russian media.

"The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo.

Putin's visit "offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable," she said, adding that it "made it more difficult to restore relations in the medium to long term." (Agencies)


Edited by Tony Sabine