Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi expressed displeasure Tuesday over a Japanese peace group's plan to sail this summer to Russian-held Kunashiri Island, which is claimed by Japan.
"It is regrettable that the group announced the plan without responding to our requests after the (Foreign Ministry's) Russian Division asked it for an explanation," Kawaguchi said.
Peace Boat, a nongovernmental organization, announced Friday it plans to take some 500 people on a goodwill voyage in August to Kunashiri and have them stay at a facility dubbed "Muneo House," which entered the limelight in connection with scandals involving lawmaker Muneo Suzuki.