The russian pacific fleet has revealed that its bastion coastal anti-ship
missile systems have been deployed on the near pacific islands also claimed
by Japan. A move intended to underline Moscow's firm stance in the dispute.
The bastion missile systems were moved to Matua, a deserted volcanic island
in the middle of the koreal island chain. Japan claims four of the
southernmost islands.
The oval-shaped 11 km long 6.8 miles island where the russian missiles were
deployed hosted a japanese military base during the second world war. After
the soviet takeover of the koreal island, matua was home to a soviet
military base that was closed amid funding shortages in the wake of the 1991
collapse of the soviet union.
It is now the focus of russian efforts to boost military presence in the
pacific.
Russia's defense ministry posted a video on thursday showing huge missile
carriers moving ashore from amphibious landing vessels and driving along the
coast of the volcanic island to take firing positions as part of drills.
The ministry said the deployment involved setting up living quarters for
personnel, hangars for the vehicles and other infrastructure.
The missile crews of the pacific fleet will be on round-the-clock watch on
this remote island in the central part of the koreal ridge to control the
adjacent water area and straight zones, the russian eastern military
district said in a statement.
The bastion is capable of hitting sea targets at a range of up to 500
kilometers (270 nautical miles). The bastion uses solid fuel rocket boosters
for acceleration and a liquid fuel ramjet for the sustained supersonic
cruise.
It can reportedly carry nuclear or conventional warheads that weigh around
200 to 250 kilograms, 440 to 551 pounds.
Additionally the system utilizes satellite guidance in initial missile
flight and active radar guidance when approaching a target. It also features
russian sea skimming cruise missile technology, allowing it to travel at
supersonic speed.
In recent years russia has aimed to beef up its military presence on the
Koreal Islands, which were seized by the soviet union in the final days of
the second world war.
In 2016, it stationed the ball and the bastion coastal defense missile
systems on two of the four southernmost koreal islands.
In subsequent years it sent top-of-the-line air defense missile systems
there and set up an air base on the island of the turret where fighter jets
were deployed. Japan asserts territorial rights to the four southernmost
islands of the koreal chain and calls them northern territories.
The dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally
ending their hostilities. the oval-shaped, 11 km long island of matua hosted
a japanese military base during the second world war.
After the soviet takeover of the koreal islands, Matua was home to a
soviet military base which was closed amid funding shortages following the
1991 collapse of the soviet union.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said russia has a sovereign right to
deploy its military forces wherever it deems necessary on its territory.
He added that Russia values relations with japan and remains committed to
efforts to negotiate a settlement.
"We maintain a political will to pursue a comprehensive dialogue with our
japanese partners in order to find ways of settlement," Peskov told
reporters.
Meanwhile u.s secretary of defense lloyd austin and japanese defense
minister nobuo kishi have held a phone conversation. During the conversation
Austin and Kishi expressed commitment to security and stability in the
asia-pacific region as well as pointed out the strength of the u.s japanese
alliance.
The ministers also stressed the importance of close trilateral cooperation
between the US, Japan and South Korea.
In addition to the bastion missile system the russian military has built an
autonomous military town on the island to provide operational maintenance
for the weapon system.
The interfax news agency revealed that the country has installed technical
posts, built storage facilities and prepared launch sites on the island to
support bastion operators.
An autonomous military camp has been organized on the territory of the
island by the forces of the fleet's logistics support units where the work
has been completed on the improvement of premises intended for year-round
service and accommodation of personnel, the russian defense ministry said.