NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 14:00 (JST), October 14

Russian security authorities say they've detained a Japanese newspaper reporter on suspicion of spying.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, announced that it detained a locally based correspondent for the Hokkaido Shimbun in the far eastern region of Sakhalin.

The FSB accused the man of gathering information related to Russia's defense capabilities under instructions from a Japanese intelligence agency.

The authorities said he was taken into custody and transferred to Moscow immediately before he was due to leave Russia.

Russia's state-run television broadcast an interview with a person who it said is an FSB official.

The person alleged that the journalist collected information from island residents about people who were mobilized for the invasion of Ukraine and those who volunteered.

The residents included those on four islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan.

The person said the reporter intended to pass the information on to the relevant Japanese authorities.

The four islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan.

The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War II.

The Russian TV report also said a court in Moscow ordered the journalist's detention for one month and 29 days.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Japan of using accredited foreign correspondents in Russia to gather information with the aim of undermining state security.

She described the alleged actions as regrettable.

The Japanese government has asked Russia to promptly provide information about the journalist's detention and to carry out proceedings in a fair manner.

Well, staying with the Northern Territories, the Sakhalin government has- says a Chinese delegation has visited Etorofu island, one of the four islands that Japan claims.

Russia controls the islands.

Japan claims them.

The Sakhalin governor reportedly requested the visit.

The Sakhalin government says the visitors included administrative officials and business people from the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.

The purpose was to study the feasibility of a joint project between Russia and China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited Etorofu for the first time in August.

Russia is offering tax breaks and other measures to encourage domestic and international investment in the islands.

Following the announcement of the visit on Tuesday, Japan's Foreign Ministry used diplomatic channels to contact both Russia and China.

It says it urged the countries to act properly regarding the matter and noted that Russia's actions are incompatible with Japan's consistent stance that the Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

Russian security authorities say they've detained a Japanese newspaper reporter on suspicion of spying.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, announced that it detained a locally based correspondent for the Hokkaido Shimbun in the far eastern region of Sakhalin.

The FSB accused the man of gathering information related to Russia's defense capabilities under instructions from a Japanese intelligence agency.

The authorities said he was taken into custody and transferred to Moscow immediately before he was due to leave Russia.

Russia's state-run television broadcast an interview with a person who it said is an FSB official.

The person alleged that the journalist collected information from island residents about people who were mobilized for the invasion of Ukraine and those who volunteered.

The residents included those on four islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan.

The person said the reporter intended to pass the information on to the relevant Japanese authorities.

The four islands are called the Northern Territories in Japan.

The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War II.

The Russian TV report also said a court in Moscow ordered the journalist's detention for one month and 29 days.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Japan of using accredited foreign correspondents in Russia to gather information with the aim of undermining state security.

She described the alleged actions as regrettable.

The Japanese government has asked Russia to promptly provide information about the journalist's detention and to carry out proceedings in a fair manner.

Well, staying with the Northern Territories, the Sakhalin government has- says a Chinese delegation has visited Etorofu island, one of the four islands that Japan claims.

Russia controls the islands.

Japan claims them.

The Sakhalin governor reportedly requested the visit.

The Sakhalin government says the visitors included administrative officials and business people from the northern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.

The purpose was to study the feasibility of a joint project between Russia and China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited Etorofu for the first time in August.

Russia is offering tax breaks and other measures to encourage domestic and international investment in the islands.

Following the announcement of the visit on Tuesday, Japan's Foreign Ministry used diplomatic channels to contact both Russia and China.

It says it urged the countries to act properly regarding the matter and noted that Russia's actions are incompatible with Japan's consistent stance that the Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory.