Kono Meets Ex-residents Of Russian-held Islands

Kono meets ex-residents of Russian-held islands

The Japanese Northern Territories Affairs Minister has met with former residents of the Russian-controlled islands. The Japanese government says the islands are an inherent part of its territory and were illegally occupied after World War Two.

In his first visit to Hokkaido after taking a new Cabinet post, former foreign minister Kono Taro had a discussion with the former residents at the Nakashibetsu town hall on Sunday.

Russian Minister Visits Kunashiri Island

Russian minister visits Kunashiri Island

The Russian emergencies minister has visited one of the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan, and stressed Moscow's intention to develop the area. Tokyo has lodged a protest against the visit.

Yevgeny Zinichev attended the opening ceremony of an emergency rescue center on Kunashiri Island on Wednesday.

Japan Protests Russian Geological Survey

Japan protests Russian geological survey

The Japanese government has lodged a protest with Russia over a geological survey in waters near the islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan.

Japan's foreign ministry says Russia had notified the Japanese side of a plan to carry out the survey from June 18 to September 18 in wide areas of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Arrested Ex-softbank Employee Talks About Russian

Arrested ex-SoftBank employee talks about Russian

Japanese investigators say an arrested former employee of Tokyo-based telecommunications giant SoftBank Corporation admitted he received personal benefits from a Russian official.

Forty-eight-year-old Yutaka Araki allegedly accessed the company's confidential information on a corporate server in February last year. He was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of violating a law aimed at preventing unfair competition.