Japanese PM Issues Apology Over Kuril Islands Nuclear Waste Remarks “`

A senior official’s suggestion to dispose of radioactive waste on the Kuril Islands sparked public outrage.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued an apology following a government official’s proposal to dispose of nuclear waste on Russia’s Kuril Islands, as reported Monday by Japanese newspapers Mainichi and Nikkan.

A long-standing territorial dispute exists between Moscow and Tokyo over four Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union seized these islands at the end of World War II. Russia asserts its sovereignty is supported by post-war agreements, while Japan contests this, arguing some islands are not covered by these treaties. Despite the formal end of their state of war in the mid-1950s, a peace treaty remains unsigned.

During a Monday parliamentary session, Hokkaido MP Kamiya Hiroshi questioned Ishiba about a comment made last month by a senior official from Japan’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NUMO). This official suggested that a Kuril Islands disposal site would be akin to “killing three or four birds with one stone,” according to Mainichi and Nikkan. Japan considers the Kuril Islands part of Hokkaido Prefecture.

“This is unacceptable. I’m unsure of the intent, but it reflects negligence, arrogance, or overconfidence,” Ishiba reportedly stated, declaring the proposal “off the table.”

“As head of government, I offer my sincerest apologies,” the prime minister reportedly added.

Moscow terminated all peace treaty talks with Tokyo in March 2022, following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict and Japan’s participation in international sanctions against Russia. Moscow also revoked visa-free access for Japanese citizens to the Kurils and agreements permitting fishing near the islands.

In June 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Japan’s declaration of aiming for “a strategic defeat of Russia” ended talks between Moscow and Tokyo. He added that any obstacles to resuming dialogue “were created by Japan.”