Japan-Russia row escalates over disputed Kurils islands

[Prapor]

Japan and Russia have exchanged heated comments over the disputed southern Kuril islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Japan's PM Naoto Kan called a visit by Russia's president to the islands last year an "unforgivable outrage".

Mr Kan was speaking during a rally in Tokyo held to demand the return of the islands, which were occupied by Soviet troops at the end of World War II.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov responded by saying that Mr Kan's remarks were "clearly undiplomatic".

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the islands last November.

The dispute over the islands, which lie north of Hokkaido and are known as the Northern Territories in Japan, has stopped Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty.

'Flag burning'

Mr Kan was the main speaker at the Tokyo rally on Monday.

Japan has designated 7 February as Northern Territories Day, marking the anniversary of an 1855 treaty which Tokyo says confirms its claim. A protest rally was also held in Nemuro, Hokkaido.

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who is to visit Moscow this week, has said he will stake his political career on securing the islands' early return.

Russia's response to Mr Kan's comments was swift.

"Those expressions are clearly undiplomatic," Mr Lavrov said.

"They contrast sharply with the respectful, positive tone that was characteristic of the meeting between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and President Dmitry Medvedev in Yokohama last autumn," Russia's top diplomat added.

He also accused Tokyo of supporting Japanese nationalist organisations, whose members reportedly burned a Russian flag during the demonstration in the Japanese capital.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12379331

lol I love the picture

Bunch of old farts, what are they gonna do? Japan really is a toothless tiger these days.

Russia shouldn't bother to respond to this. Solve our internal issues, that is far more important. Japan is a rambling old man. All they can do is talk. Look how they shook when China barked at them. Ignore them, they don't matter. Focus on North Caucasus, and how to steer youth there away from crime and extremism. Focus on powerty, unemployment, alcoholism, addiction, police corruption and brutality, organized crime. Focus on improving business practices to attract more foreign investment. Focus on bringing more democracy and transparency to governance. Focus on issues in the military, on transforming it from a bloated, awkward, overweight, slow moving apparatus full of 18-year old conscripts who don't know how to wipe their own asses; to a potent, mobile, professional fighting force capable of defending the safety and security of citizens, upholding national interests, and putting above-mentioned Japan in her place. Look at building better schools and kindergardens, and training better nannies, teachers; so that people know their children have a good life. Improve education, so that Russia's universities become desirable learning places for more than just their cheapiness.

But, of course they won't. Already the Nashi are staging counter protests, hurling insults, threats, and rotten eggs at the Japanese embassy. Politicians are responding to Japan with angry rethoric and posturing. So much time and air is wasted.