Russia held missile firing exercise on disputed isle last Autumn

May 23, 2019

Moscow--Russia carried out a missile firing exercise last autumn on one of the four islands at the center of its territorial row with Japan, a Russian defense ministry newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Bal advanced surface-to-ship missile system was used in the exercise on the island, called Etorofu in Japan, according to the report.

The move suggested the possible additional deployment of a Bal missile unit on Etorofu. The initial deployment of Bal and Bastion missile units on Kunashiri, another of the four islands, and Etorofu, respectively, was reported in 2016.

Bal missiles have a firing range of 130 kilometers, and Bastion missiles a range of 300 kilometers.

In the latest report, a Russian Pacific fleet commander was quoted as saying that the missile exercise attracted admiration.

The four islands are collectively called the Northern Territories in Japan. Former Soviet troops seized them from Japan in the closing days of World War II. Jiji Press