Japan condemns Putin’s visit to Kuril Islands: What is the dispute about?
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, a southern Kuril Island, on Thursday, prompting Japan to lodge a formal protest. Japan claims the island, calling it Etorofu, as part of its Northern Territories, a dispute stemming from World War II. The visit complicates ongoing tensions, as Japan's Foreign Minister labeled it "absolutely unacceptable."