Igor Morgulov
The situation on the Korean Peninsula and the deployment of additional units of the Russian army on the Kuril Islands will be the subject of the upcoming March 20 in Tokyo to the talks between the foreign Ministers and defense ministries of Russia and Japan (format “2+2”). About it in interview to Agency JiJi Press said the Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov.
According to him, it is necessary to break the “vicious circle of tension” that has developed around the DPRK: Pyongyang is testing missiles in response to what Seoul in conjunction with the American allies are satisfied with military exercises.
In this regard, Moscow insists on a political and diplomatic solution to the problem and will present its position during the upcoming meeting in Tokyo.
In addition, Morgulov did not rule out that one of the topics of the talks will be the location of the units of the Armed forces of Russia in the Kuril Islands. “Appropriate action is the sovereign right of the Russian Federation”, — said the diplomat. According to him, the Japanese partners have to be ready to give explanations on the concerns of the Russian side.
February 23, the government of Japan sent a protest to Russia in connection with the Ministry of defense plans to place up to the end of the year the division on the Kuril Islands.
A day earlier, defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that by the end of 2017 will be strengthened by the defense of the Kuril Islands. “We are actively working to protect the Kuril Islands. There we have to accommodate division, we also need this year to complete [the arrangement],” said the Minister.