Russia and Japan have a territorial dispute over Russian-held islands near Hokkaido that were seized from Japan in the final days of World War II. Russian aircraft occasionally enter Japanese airspace, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets in response.

The infringements were the first by Russia in five years, according to the Japanese defense ministry. A fighter fired a warning flare in response.

Japan is strongly alarmed by recent airspace breaches by China and Russia and other military activities by them around the country, D