Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting a strong protest from Japan. The visit took place on Thursday, according to Russian state media.
The islands lie in Russia's far east, close to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. Japan claims the territory, which it calls the Northern Territories, and which was seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty after World War II.
The Kremlin released a video showing Putin on the islands, and Russian media reported that he visited a fish-processing plant and was given caviar. Japan responded by reiterating its territorial claims.
The visit comes with relations between the two countries already deeply strained, and the long-standing dispute has intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.