Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (Oct 15) said that her country is not conducting any spying activities in Russia. The statement from the PM came after Moscow arrested Japanese journalist on suspicion of espionage. The arrest comes amid rising tensions between Russia and Japan following Russian President Vladimir Putin's August trip to the Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries. The Soviet Union took the Kuril Islands from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the ongoing dispute has prevented the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/takaichi-s-india-visit-decoding-india-japan-joint-vision-for-next-decade-and-its-eight-pillars-1782856460066">Takaichi's India visit: Decoding India-Japan Joint Vision for Next Decade and its eight pillars</a>&nbsp;“There is no such fact,” Prime Minister Takaichi said, adding that “the protection of Japanese nationals is extremely important right now, and we intend to focus our efforts on that.” Takaichi added that details of Russian accusations remained unclear. “Each country’s domestic laws are different, so we do not yet know the details of what they call an allegation. Nevertheless, Japan will firmly convey its own position,” she said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-japan-alter-balance-of-power-in-the-indo-pacific-1782917656367">India-Japan alter balance of power in the Indo-Pacific</a><h2>What happened?</h2>Russian domestic security agency arrested a Japanese journalist from Sakhalin Island suspected of spying. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that the Japanese man, who worked for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, was suspected of gathering information related to Russia's defence capability on behalf of a Japanese intelligence agency. The Russian foreign ministry identified the Japanese reporter as Yuki Imai. In response, Tokyo summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest over the arrest, with Japan’s Foreign Ministry urging “fair and impartial treatment.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Thursday that the Japanese government had not been able to contact the individual, but is working to arrange a meeting with the reporter “as soon as possible.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The FSB released a video showing masked agents in black outfits arresting the man in a hotel room and then escorting him to a plane bound for Moscow. He was then shown facing a judge at the Lefortovo District Court, who ordered him to be held in custody for two months pending the probe.&nbsp;Russia's Sakhalin region includes Sakhalin Island and the four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. Putin visited one of them, Iturup, in August. Takaichi said that Putin's August visit was “incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories” and was “absolutely unacceptable."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denied Tokyo conducts spying activities in Russia after Moscow arrested Japanese journalist Yuki Imai on suspicion of espionage. The arrest comes amid renewed tensions over the disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (Oct 15) said that her country is not conducting any spying activities in Russia. The statement from the PM came after Moscow arrested Japanese journalist on suspicion of espionage. The arrest comes amid rising tensions between Russia and Japan following Russian President Vladimir Putin's August trip to the Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries. The Soviet Union took the Kuril Islands from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the ongoing dispute has prevented the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. Also Read: Takaichi's India visit: Decoding India-Japan Joint Vision for Next Decade and its eight pillars “There is no such fact,” Prime Minister Takaichi said, adding that “the protection of Japanese nationals is extremely important right now, and we intend to focus our efforts on that.” Takaichi added that details of Russian accusations remained unclear. “Each country’s domestic laws are different, so we do not yet know the details of what they call an allegation. Nevertheless, Japan will firmly convey its own position,” she said. Also Read: India-Japan alter balance of power in the Indo-Pacific What happened? Russian domestic security agency arrested a Japanese journalist from Sakhalin Island suspected of spying. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that the Japanese man, who worked for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, was suspected of gathering information related to Russia's defence capability on behalf of a Japanese intelligence agency. The Russian foreign ministry identified the Japanese reporter as Yuki Imai. In response, Tokyo summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest over the arrest, with Japan’s Foreign Ministry urging “fair and impartial treatment.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Thursday that the Japanese government had not been able to contact the individual, but is working to arrange a meeting with the reporter “as soon as possible.” The FSB released a video showing masked agents in black outfits arresting the man in a hotel room and then escorting him to a plane bound for Moscow. He was then shown facing a judge at the Lefortovo District Court, who ordered him to be held in custody for two months pending the probe. Russia's Sakhalin region includes Sakhalin Island and the four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. Putin visited one of them, Iturup, in August. Takaichi said that Putin's August visit was “incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories” and was “absolutely unacceptable."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denied Tokyo conducts spying activities in Russia after Moscow arrested Japanese journalist Yuki Imai on suspicion of espionage. The arrest comes amid renewed tensions over the disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

Japanese journalist arrested in Russia on espionage charges, PM Takaichi says 'no such fact'

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's far eastern Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday (August 13), prompting strong protests from Japan, which also claims the territory. The long-standing territorial dispute has remained a major source of tension between Russia and Japan. The islands are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.&nbsp;The Kremlin released a video showing Putin on one of the Kurils' four main islands. Russian media reported that he visited a fish processing plant and was presented with caviar.&nbsp;Putin's visit marked the first trip by a Russian president to the islands since Dmitry Medvedev visited them in 2010.&nbsp;The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido during the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there since then.&nbsp;The disputed islands form part of the volcanic Kuril archipelago, which stretches in a broad arc from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula towards Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/56-inch-ka-chhota-bandar-vs-jharkhand-pe-jawab-do-protest-marks-last-day-of-monsoon-session-as-it-ends-in-washout-1786605256330">'56 inch ka chhota bandar vs Jharkhand pe jawab do': Protest marks last day of Monsoon Session as it ends in washout</a><h2>Japan protests Putin's visit</h2>Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticised Putin's visit and said it "offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable."&nbsp;"The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law," Takaichi told reporters. She added that the visit "made it more difficult to restore relations in the medium to long term."&nbsp;Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev on Thursday to lodge a "strong protest" over Putin's visit.&nbsp;Motegi told the ambassador that Putin's visit would "have an extremely negative impact on Japan-Russia relations", according to a statement from the ministry. Relations between the two countries have already faced pressure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;Japan has joined other G7 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and providing financial assistance and non-lethal defence aid to Ukraine.&nbsp;Putin on Wednesday described Japan's sanctions as "unprovoked".&nbsp;"Japan has identified Russia as a main source of threats. I would like to point out that we are not threatening Japan... On the contrary, it has territorial claims against our country," Putin said.<h2>Russia, China and North Korea deepen Japan's security concerns</h2>Russia and China have also strengthened their ties, with their navies and air forces conducting joint exercises in areas around Japan. The drills have prompted Japanese fighter jets to carry out frequent scrambles.&nbsp;North Korea, which this month described Japan's military build-up as a "transformation into a war state", has also sent troops and artillery shells to support Russia's war against Ukraine.&nbsp;Japan's latest defence white paper, issued this month, again highlighted growing security risks from Russia, China and North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands in 16 years has triggered strong protests from Japan, with Tokyo warning that the move could further damage already strained Russia-Japan relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's far eastern Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday (August 13), prompting strong protests from Japan, which also claims the territory. The long-standing territorial dispute has remained a major source of tension between Russia and Japan. The islands are known as the Northern Territories in Japan and were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The Kremlin released a video showing Putin on one of the Kurils' four main islands. Russian media reported that he visited a fish processing plant and was presented with caviar. Putin's visit marked the first trip by a Russian president to the islands since Dmitry Medvedev visited them in 2010. The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido during the final days of World War II and has maintained a military presence there since then. The disputed islands form part of the volcanic Kuril archipelago, which stretches in a broad arc from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula towards Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido. Also Read: '56 inch ka chhota bandar vs Jharkhand pe jawab do': Protest marks last day of Monsoon Session as it ends in washout Japan protests Putin's visit Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticised Putin's visit and said it "offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable." "The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law," Takaichi told reporters. She added that the visit "made it more difficult to restore relations in the medium to long term." Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev on Thursday to lodge a "strong protest" over Putin's visit. Motegi told the ambassador that Putin's visit would "have an extremely negative impact on Japan-Russia relations", according to a statement from the ministry. Relations between the two countries have already faced pressure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Japan has joined other G7 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and providing financial assistance and non-lethal defence aid to Ukraine. Putin on Wednesday described Japan's sanctions as "unprovoked". "Japan has identified Russia as a main source of threats. I would like to point out that we are not threatening Japan... On the contrary, it has territorial claims against our country," Putin said. Russia, China and North Korea deepen Japan's security concerns Russia and China have also strengthened their ties, with their navies and air forces conducting joint exercises in areas around Japan. The drills have prompted Japanese fighter jets to carry out frequent scrambles. North Korea, which this month described Japan's military build-up as a "transformation into a war state", has also sent troops and artillery shells to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Japan's latest defence white paper, issued this month, again highlighted growing security risks from Russia, China and North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands in 16 years has triggered strong protests from Japan, with Tokyo warning that the move could further damage already strained Russia-Japan relations.

Russia-Japan tensions flare: Putin visits disputed islands, Tokyo protests, summons Russian envoy

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Japanese journalist arrested in Russia on espionage charges, PM Takaichi says 'no such fact'

Russia-Japan tensions flare: Putin visits disputed islands, Tokyo protests