ID :
206107
Thu, 09/08/2011 - 19:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206107
The shortlink copeid
Japan watchful of Russia's exercises near Hokkaido
TOKYO, Sept. 8 Kyodo -
Japan is keeping a close eye on Russia's moves to conduct exercises in the Sea of Okhotsk and designate the area off the northeastern part of Hokkaido as a flight danger zone, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Thursday.
Fujimura told a news conference that it is ''rare'' for such a zone to be created so close to Japanese airspace and said the government has expressed its concern to Moscow and is seeking further information.
''We will deal with the matter appropriately based on how Russia responds,'' Fujimura, Japan's top government spokesman, said.
The area near Hokkaido is sensitive because of Russian-administered islands there claimed by Japan. Tokyo and Moscow remain at odds over the sovereignty of the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which Soviet troops seized at the end of World War II.
In another rare move, two Russian bombers flew around Japan from the south over the Tsushima Strait off Nagasaki Prefecture to the area near the Northern Territories via the Pacific Ocean, the Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the Russian bombers flew around Japan for about 14 hours from 6 a.m.
Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled due to concern that the Russian planes may have violated Japanese airspace. The ministry later found there was no such violation, but it is very rare for Russian aircraft to fly around Japan in a circuit.
==Kyodo
2011-09-08 23:48:14
Japan is keeping a close eye on Russia's moves to conduct exercises in the Sea of Okhotsk and designate the area off the northeastern part of Hokkaido as a flight danger zone, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Thursday.
Fujimura told a news conference that it is ''rare'' for such a zone to be created so close to Japanese airspace and said the government has expressed its concern to Moscow and is seeking further information.
''We will deal with the matter appropriately based on how Russia responds,'' Fujimura, Japan's top government spokesman, said.
The area near Hokkaido is sensitive because of Russian-administered islands there claimed by Japan. Tokyo and Moscow remain at odds over the sovereignty of the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri and Shikotan as well as the Habomai islet group, which Soviet troops seized at the end of World War II.
In another rare move, two Russian bombers flew around Japan from the south over the Tsushima Strait off Nagasaki Prefecture to the area near the Northern Territories via the Pacific Ocean, the Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the Russian bombers flew around Japan for about 14 hours from 6 a.m.
Air Self-Defense Force fighters were scrambled due to concern that the Russian planes may have violated Japanese airspace. The ministry later found there was no such violation, but it is very rare for Russian aircraft to fly around Japan in a circuit.
==Kyodo
2011-09-08 23:48:14
