Japan Protests Russian Military Drills Near Disputed Kuril Islands
Japan has issued a diplomatic protest against Russia's military exercises around the disputed Kuril Islands. The drills, announced by Russia's Defense Ministry, involve 60 warships, 30 aircraft, and over 13,000 servicemen in the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Japan claims the southern Kuril Islands as its Northern Territories, which are currently administered by Russia. The exercises include live-fire drills and missile tests, prompting Japan to express its disapproval through diplomatic channels. The situation remains tense as neither Russia's Embassy in Tokyo nor the Japanese foreign ministry has publicly commented on the protest.