Moscow to Reportedly Respond to Appearance of Hypersonic Missiles in Japan's Border Areas
04:08 GMT 13.02.2023 (Updated: 12:15 GMT 06.04.2023)
© AP Photo / Willy Kurniawan
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is closely following the development of Japan's military potential, and in the event of any threats to Russia’s Far Eastern regions, such as the appearance of hypersonic missiles on the Japanese border islands.
Russia will immediately respond in accordance with the defense doctrine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Sputnik.
Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that Tokyo was ready to consider the deployment of US medium-range missiles on its territory if Washington initiates official negotiations on this matter. In January, there were reports that the Japanese government had decided to start developing cruise missiles with interchangeable warheads with a range of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), as early as this year.
"Indeed, recently, Japan has sharply stepped up the modernization of its military potential, ramping up dangerous activities near the Russian borders, including conducting large-scale exercises jointly with the United States and other countries, and testing new types of missile and conventional weapons. In this regard, we have repeatedly expressed strong protest to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels," Rudenko said.
Asked about how Moscow assesses Japan's plans to create long-range hypersonic missiles, Rudenko told Sputnik that Russia will continue to closely monitor the development of Japanese military potential.
"...in the event of any potential security threats to our Far Eastern regions, we will immediately take retaliatory measures in accordance with Russia’s defense doctrine," the deputy foreign minister said.
Russia, China Preparing Meeting Between Lavrov, New Chinese Foreign Minister
Meanwhile, Rudenko revealed that Moscow and Beijing are working on organizing the first meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his new Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang.
"Currently, the foreign ministries of the two countries are working on options for organizing the first personal contact. There is also a mutual commitment to expand meetings at other levels," Rudenko saod.
The minister noted that the top diplomats of the two countries were also actively developing cooperation in a rapidly changing international environment.
The official recalled that on January 9, Lavrov had his first telephone conversation with Qin, during which the Russian minister invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Russia at a convenient time.
"Currently, the foreign ministries of the two countries are working on options for organizing the first personal contact. There is also a mutual commitment to expand meetings at other levels," Rudenko saod.
The minister noted that the top diplomats of the two countries were also actively developing cooperation in a rapidly changing international environment.
The official recalled that on January 9, Lavrov had his first telephone conversation with Qin, during which the Russian minister invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Russia at a convenient time.
