Japan to recall Russia envoy over Kurils

Japan says it would “temporarily” recall its ambassador to Moscow, protesting a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to disputed Kuril Islands.

“I decided to recall ambassador to Russia (Masaharu) Kono temporarily,” AFP quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara as saying on Tuesday.

Tensions between Japan and Russia reached new highs after Medvedev visited the remote Pacific islands on Monday, marking the first time a Russian leader makes such a move. Tokyo condemned the visit as “very regrettable.”

Japan has summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Bely over the move, saying the visit “hurts public sentiment in Japan.”

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan also condemned the Russian president’s four-hour visit to the Kuril Islands.

“As Japan has kept its position that the four northern islands belong to Japanese territory, the president’s visit there is very regrettable,” Kan told the country’s parliament, referring to Medvedev’s arrival at Kunashiri island in the Kurils which are known to be rich in mineral deposits and fishing stock.

The archipelago of some 56 islands, which are home to about 19,000 people, has been controlled by Moscow since being seized by Soviet troops in 1945.

All of the islands are under Russian jurisdiction, but Japan claims that the four southernmost islands (to northern Japan) as part of its territory, leading to the ongoing Kuril Islands dispute.

Premier Kan plans to discuss the issue with Medvedev on the sidelines of an upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Japan.