The Kuril Islands: how a visit from Putin reignited a 150-year-old dispute between Japan and Russia

The island of Kunashir, one of four islands known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. Photograph: Yuri Maltsev/Reuters

The diplomatic spat between Japan and Russia following Vladimir Putin’s visit to an archipelago of disputed islands north of Hokkaido continues to escalate, after Moscow summoned the Japanese ambassador on Tuesday.

On Thursday Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, called Putin’s actions “absolutely unacceptable” and Russia’s ambassador in Tokyo was immediately called in for a dressing down. Russia countered that it was Japan making unfounded claims on its territory.