Putin's Kuril Visit Stirs Tokyo as Russia Deepens Ties with North Korea

Putin's first Kuril visit draws Tokyo's protest, while Russia's pact with North Korea reshapes regional security.

Putin's Kuril Visit Stirs Tokyo as Russia Deepens Ties with North Korea — Vladimir Putin has visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting a sharp protest from Tokyo.[^1] The visit, reported by Cursor, comes as Russia deepens its military cooperation with North Korea—a partnership that analysts say could alter the balance of power in Northeast Asia.[^2] Tokyo's protest underscores the unresolved territorial dispute that has kept Japan and Russia from signing a formal peace treaty since World War II. Meanwhile, the Kremlin's alignment with Pyongyang is becoming more explicit. A new agreement between Russia and North Korea reportedly includes provisions for military support, with North Korea receiving economic and technological assistance in return for its involvement in the war against Ukraine. This quid pro quo, detailed by Cursor, signals a hardening of the Moscow-Pyongyang axis, which has already drawn sanctions from the West. The Kuril visit and the North Korea pact are not isolated moves; they are part of a broader Russian strategy to assert influence in the Asia-Pacific. By stepping onto the disputed islands, Putin is signaling that Russia will not yield to Japanese pressure, even as it seeks to counterbalance US alliances in the region. For Tokyo, the combination of Russian assertiveness and North Korean alignment presents a dual challenge that will test its diplomatic and military responses in the coming months.[^1] Mahash Attorney Exit, Sara Netanyahu Tape, and the Qusra Fallout — A senior attorney at the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) has requested to end her role and move to the Appeals Department of the State Attorney's Office, as learned today (Thursday) by ynet.[^1] The move comes amid an ongoing battle over appointments in the department, with the Attorney General opposing certain appointments over fears of harming elections.[^2] The attorney's request adds to the turbulence at Mahash, which has been investigating associates of Itamar Ben-Gvir. On Thursday morning, journalist Uri Misgav published an audio recording in which Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is allegedly heard shouting i