Russia's Putin Makes First Visit to Kuril Islands Claimed by Japan The Kuril Islands, a rocky archipelago in Russia's far east, have been a contentious issue in international relations for decades.
Claimed by Japan as its Northern Territories, the islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, leading to ongoing tensions between Moscow and Tokyo.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kurils last week, it was no surprise that Japan protested strongly.