Putin visits disputed Kuril islands sparking Japanese protest

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Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting strong protests from Japan. The islands, seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, remain a contentious territorial dispute between Russia and Japan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril islands near Japan's northernmost Hokkaido island for the first time on Thursday. Tokyo issued a strong protest in response to the Russian leader's visit to the disputed territory claimed by Japan that was seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.