Russia's Pacific fleet has carried out a live-fire missile exercise off a chain of islands long claimed by Japan, intensifying World War 3 fears. The drill featured a surface-to-ship missile system, a guided missile cruiser, and a nuclear-powered submarine, simulating a barrage on enemy vessels with missiles striking targets nearly 200 miles away.
Drill follows Putin's island visit
The exercise comes days after Vladimir Putin made a personal appearance on the contested territory. The island chain is known as the Northern Territories in Tokyo and the Southern Kurils in Moscow. Tensions have simmered since Soviet troops seized the islands in the final days of World War Two, with Russia controlling them ever since and blocking a formal peace treaty between the two nations for nearly 80 years.
Japan reacts with fury
Japan responded with anger to the military escalation. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said: "We cannot tolerate moves [by Russia] to strengthen military power on the four northern islands because they go against our country's stance [on the territories]."
In a shift from previous diplomatic caution, Putin used his island tour to mingle with workers, eat caviar, and hug children in front of cameras. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi slammed the visit as "absolutely unacceptable." She said: "This visit can be said to have further hardened anti-Russian sentiment within Japan and made the medium- to long-term recovery of relations more difficult."
Relations at rock bottom
The volcanic island chain sits off Japan's northernmost region of Hokkaido, linking it to Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula. Relations between Tokyo and Moscow hit rock bottom after Japan backed Western allies following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and slapped heavy sanctions on the Kremlin.
Fears are mounting over a possible axis linking Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. North Korea recently test-fired a salvo of missiles towards the Sea of Japan, while Moscow and Beijing have stepped up joint air and sea patrols. Russia's drills are expected to continue across the contested waters until August 29.
