Japan Issues Protest Against Actions Of Russian Border Guards In Southern Kurils

The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued on Thursday a protest to Russia over a fine imposed by Russian border guards on two Japanese ships fishing in the region of southern Kuril Islands

TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2019) The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued on Thursday a protest to Russia over a fine imposed by Russian border guards on two Japanese ships fishing in the region of southern Kuril Islands.

"Actions that can be interpreted as the use of Russian power [in the southern Kurils] are unacceptable," the ministry said in a statement, as quoted by the Kyodo news agency.

According to the publication, Russian border guards verified the identity of two Japanese fishing vessels near Kunashir Island, checked legal documents and demanded them to pay a fine, citing the violations revealed.

At the same time, the ministry told Sputnik that it was clarifying information about the incident.

The Southern Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, are at the heart of a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Tokyo lays claim to Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and the Habomai islets. The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a post-WWII peace treaty.

Under the agreement of February 21, 1998, the Japanese can engage in fishing in the southern Kurils at a fixed quota for a fee.