Overview
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara issued a warning to Okinawa and Northern Territories Minister Hitoshi Kikawada over wording that could be read as acknowledging Russian sovereignty.
- Kihara stated the islands are an integral part of Japan and said the comment risked creating misunderstanding.
- Kikawada made the remark on Nov. 8 after viewing the islands from Cape Nosappu in Hokkaido, calling the cape "the closest to a foreign nation."
- Kikawada told former residents he would be more cautious and responsible, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she cautioned him by phone, and he is expected to remain in his post.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the issue a Japanese domestic matter while insisting the islands’ status as Russian territory should not be questioned, against a backdrop of suspended peace-treaty consultations and halted joint projects.