Kuril Islands

Why in news?

• The Ukraine war has given some hope to Japanese that the Kuril Islands can be wrestled out of Russia's control.

About Kuril Islands:

• The Kuril Islands are strategically located islands stretching between the north of Japan's Hokkaido islands and the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
• These are a set of 4 islands situated between the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific Ocean. They are:
  • Iturup (Etorofu in Japanese)
  • Kunashir (Kunashiri)
  • Shikotan
  • Habomai Islets.
• These islands are a point of contention between Russia and Japan.
• Japan claims that the islands have been part of it since the early 19th century.
• Russia claims that the islands were seized by Soviet forces in the closing days of WWII.
• Japan, Russia and South Korea calls them in 3 different names.
  • Japan - Northern territories
  • Russia - Kuril Islands
  • South Korea - Dokdo islands

PRACTICE QUESTION

Kuril Islands, recently seen in news, is located in:

(a) Pacific ocean

(b) Arctic Ocean

(c) Atlantic Ocean

(d) Indian Ocean

Answer