Russia Deploys Missiles Near Disputed Territory with Japan

Russia has deployed a defensive missile mechanism to the northern area of the Kuril Islands, the side of the vital island chain that lies between Japan and Russia's Kamchatkan Peninsula. Moscow and Tokyo were found to be participating in disputes in the South Kuril region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the Bastion missile mechanism, which has a flight achievement of up to 500 km, was issued to the island of Paramushir in the northern part of the Kuril Islands. Not only did it deploy missile mechanisms, Russia co-created a military camp there with circumstances that allowed it to service, facilities, tours, and food for a year for some personnel.

"Pacific Fleet coastal soldiers will continue to stand guard during the time to regulate the water areas and strait zones side by side," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a confession, Monday (5/12/2022).

One year earlier Russia had installed a Bastion missile mechanism on the island of Matua which is on the central side of the Kuril ridge. Last September, the Center for Tactics and International Studies said Russia's militarization of the Kuril Islands was not identified because the world's attention was being poured into Ukraine.

"Some of Russia's moves to increase its presence show that some of the islands will continue to play a devastating role for the future Russian-Japanese fabric and if Japan and the United States (US) should deepen discussions regarding Russian activity in the area," the Center for Tactics and International Studies said in its report.

In late 2021, Russia explained that it maintained a political determination to continue talks with Japan to agree to a peace deal. Since World War II ended, the 2 countries have not officially made peace.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Japan is Russia's partner. Moscow, he said, really appreciates the bilateral fabric of the 2 countries. Even so, Peskov did not deny that there were also common problems they encountered.

But the issue did not necessarily make Russia's determination to formally make peace with Japan fade. "We maintain our political resolve to continue in-depth discussions with our Japanese partners until we find steps to resolve this particular issue," Peskov said on December 2 last year, according to the website of the Russian information office, TASS.

Since World War II ended in 1945, Russia and Japan have held a series of discussions to reach a peace agreement. In 1956, the 2 countries signed the Joint Proclamation as a symbol of the end of their confrontation and the reconditioning of diplomatic interweaving. In the proclamation, Japan and Russia agreed to continue negotiating a peace agreement and reviewing territorial disputes, namely in the South Kuril Islands area.

After World War II, the Southern Kuril Islands became a side of the Soviet Union. But Japan fought the possession of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan Islands, and Habomai Islands. Based on the Joint Proclamation approved in 1956, the Soviet Union agreed to grant the Shikotan and Habomai Islands.

But in 1960, Japan signed a security deal with the US. This made the Soviets thwart their goal of giving Shikotan and Habomai to Japan. At that time, the Soviets said they would only give some of the islands to Japan only when all foreign troops were taken from their area. As of now, disputes over the area are ongoing.