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EPA
Placing Russian missiles on the Kuril Islands will not affect the negotiations between Moscow and Tokyo on the preparation for the visit to Japan of President Vladimir Putin. As reported TASS, said on Thursday, 24 November, the Secretary-General of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan Acehide Suga.
“I think it will have no influence,” he said, answering a corresponding question of journalists. At the same time, Suga noticed that Tokyo will consider the information received and will take “appropriate action, including the official statement.” The representative of the Japanese Cabinet also stressed that Tokyo is closely watching the Russian military presence in the southern part of the Kuril Islands.
On 23 November Minister of foreign Affairs of Japan, Fumio Kishida said that the government will respond to the emergence of Russian anti-ship missiles on the Kuril Islands. Earlier in the day, the press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that the deployment of missile complexes “Bastion” and “Ball” on the Kuril Islands is justified and should not affect Russian-Japanese relations.
Missile systems were stationed in the Kuril Islands on November 22. “Bastion” on duty on the island of Iturup, Bal — on Kunashir.
In 1956, Moscow and Tokyo signed a Declaration on ending the war. The document can come into force after the conclusion of a peace Treaty that is not signed to this day due to a territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands. Japan claims the Islands of Shikotan, Habomai, Iturup and Kunashir, referring to the Treaty of 1855. In turn, Moscow insists that these territories became part of the Soviet Union after the Second world war.