Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido

Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido

Photo taken Feb. 2, 2023, shows the village of Shana, known as Kurilsk in Russia, on Etorofu, one of the Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido, northern Japan.

Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido

Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido

A car drives on a snow-covered road on Feb. 2, 2023, in Shana, known as Kurilsk in Russia, on Etorofu, one of the Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido, northern Japan.

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Noboru Sakashita, the captain of the crab fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, attends a hearing at the South Kuril District Court in Yuzhno-Kurilsk on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island on Sept. 21. The Russian court ordered him to pay about 500,000 rubles ($12,700, or 2.2 million yen) in fines and damages for intruding into and poaching in Russian-claimed territorial waters just off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido in mid-August.

Russia ready to release all 20 Japanese fishermen

Russia ready to release all 20 Japanese fishermen

NEMURO, Japan - Russia tells Japan on Sept. 1 it will release all 20 crew members of three Japanese fishing boats seized Aug. 27 near the Russian-held, disputed Habomai group of islets east of Hokkaido, Japan. But it said the captains and the boats will be kept in custody ''for a while'' because of the ongoing investigation. Photo shows the fishing boats being towed on Aug. 28 at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, known as Furukamappu in Japan, on Kunashiri Island, another Russian-held island claimed by Japan.

Ex-post office built before WWII on Russian-held island demolished

Ex-post office built before WWII on Russian-held island demolished

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2014, shows a former postal station house before its recent demolition in Shana, or Kurilsk in Russian, on Etorofu, one of the four Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. The last vestige of Japan's presence on the island is said to have been dismantled in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Noboru Sakashita, the captain of the crab fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, attends a hearing at the South Kuril District Court in Yuzhno-Kurilsk on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island on Sept. 21. The Russian court ordered him to pay about 500,000 rubles ($12,700, or 2.2 million yen) in fines and damages for intruding into and poaching in Russian-claimed territorial waters just off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido in mid-August. (Kyodo)

Russia ready to release all 20 Japanese fishermen

Russia ready to release all 20 Japanese fishermen

NEMURO, Japan - Russia tells Japan on Sept. 1 it will release all 20 crew members of three Japanese fishing boats seized Aug. 27 near the Russian-held, disputed Habomai group of islets east of Hokkaido, Japan. But it said the captains and the boats will be kept in custody ''for a while'' because of the ongoing investigation. Photo shows the fishing boats being towed on Aug. 28 at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, known as Furukamappu in Japan, on Kunashiri Island, another Russian-held island claimed by Japan.