The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong protest to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow because of the recent tests of the HIMARS MLRS near the Russian borders, according to the agency’s website.
“The Embassy of Japan was strongly protested in connection with the testing of HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems by the Japan Self-Defense Forces on October 10 as part of a joint military exercise with the United States at the Yausubetsu training ground (Hokkaido), located in direct proximity to the Russian borders,” the statement said.
It is noted that when creating the training ground, the Japanese Foreign Ministry spoke about the lack of plans to use it for testing long-range rocket launchers. In addition, the fact that local media linked these military maneuvers to “Russian aggression in Ukraine” is puzzling, the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.
“We consider the military exercises that took place as a challenge to ensuring the security of the Far Eastern region of our country and insist on the immediate cessation of such actions. The Japanese side was also warned of the inevitability of adequate response measures in order to block military threats to Russia,” the Foreign Ministry noted.
Earlier this week, the Kyodo news agency reported that Japan’s ground self-defense forces and the US Navy held a joint exercise involving HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. Shortly before this, the countries also held military maneuvers in the Sea of Japan.
