IN Russia announced the suspension of the cooperation agreement for the decommissioning of its nuclear weapons, signed with Japan in 1993.
This development follows the continued deterioration of bilateral relations between Moscow and Tokyo, especially after the war in Ukraine launched in February 2022.
According to Russia, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree stating that the Kremlin would notify Japan of the termination of the agreement providing support to Tokyo for weapons decommissioning.
This agreement has become ambiguous, however, especially after Moscow reportedly refused to send related military data to Tokyo.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed in a press conference that it is unacceptable for Japan to learn of the agreement’s suspension without receiving prior notice.
Meanwhile, Russia has also canceled its economic activities on the islands it controls, which Japan also claims.
These islands of Hokkaido are known as the northern territories in Japan and the southern Kurils in Russia.
To recall, the agreement between Japan and Russia was signed after the revelation in 1993 that Russia’s Pacific Fleet had discharged radioactive waste in the Sea of Japan.
