Kuril Islands
2023 AUG 2
Preliminary >
Geography > Places in news > Places in news
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