“We are surprised, of course, that the relevant provisions of the document are not only completely divorced from reality, but are simply permeated with distrust and suspicion about the course of action of our country,” Zakharova said, commenting on the new edition of the White Paper on Japanese defense.
She noted that the purpose of the events is "to ensure national security in a tense military-political situation" in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We categorically do not accept Tokyo's claims regarding defense measures in the South Kuriles, which in this book are referred to as“ illegally occupied native Japanese lands, ”Zakharova said.
The Foreign Ministry recalled that these territories are under the sovereignty of Russia following the results of World War II, and the country has the right to conduct any activity on them.
Earlier, Japan in the White Paper named Russia's activities in the so-called northern territories among the factors worsening the situation in the region.