Japan Further Contests Kuril Islands, Calling Russia Occupation “Illegal”

Japan's Foreign Ministry, in its annual diplomacy report "Blue Book" reportedly labeled the southern part of the Kuril Islands as "illegally occupied" by Russia. An official publication of the document is expected in the coming days, Kyodo news agency reported. Known in Japan as the Northern Territories this is the first time since 2003 that Japan has reportedly used this type of language to describe the Russian occupation of the islands.