Russia protests Japan’s planned missile drills near eastern border

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Thursday lodged a strong protest with the Japanese Embassy in Moscow, objecting to missile exercises slated for June on Hokkaido Island, which is close to the country's eastern frontier.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website that the drills involve firing practices with SSM-1 anti-ship missile complexes equipped with Type-88 missiles capable of striking targets up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) away -- well within reach of Russian territory.

"Russia perceives such aggressive military maneuvers as posing a potential danger to its national security and sees it as absolutely unacceptable," it stressed.

The ministry emphasized that such Japanese actions can fan tensions in Northeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

"In response to the provocative behavior, Russia has reserved the right to implement all necessary countermeasures to protect its security interests in the Far East," it said.