Putin pays his first visit to Pacific island chain claimed by Japan, drawing a protest from Tokyo

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday, marking his first trip to the Pacific archipelago. During the visit, Putin toured a fish processing facility on Iturup, one of the four islands in the chain currently under Russian control.

The islands are the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute, as they are also claimed by Japan. Following the visit, the Japanese government issued a formal protest regarding the Russian president's presence in the region.