Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has criticised Russian leader Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup, the largest of the disputed Kuril Islands. In response, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, called the islands "Russian land" and threatened anyone who disagreed with "monstrous consequences".

The four southernmost islands of the chain also are claimed by Japan, which calls them the Northern Territories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island in the disputed Kuril Islands chain claimed by both Russia and Japan, state news agency TASS said on Thursday. The…

Putin visits Etorofu, known in Russia as Iturup, that Tokyo claims as its own territory