A vessel carrying Japanese nationals is believed to have been seized by Russian border control authorities near one of the disputed islands off Hokkaido, a Foreign Ministry official said.
The ministry was informed by Russia around 2 p.m. Tuesday that the vessel was under its control, the official said, adding that details, including the size of the vessel and where it was from, were still unknown.
There is information that two Japanese nationals were on the vessel. The official said it is possible the vessel was seized off Kunashiri Island at around 1 a.m. after it refused an order from the Russian authorities to stop.
Kunashiri is one of the Russian-held islands northeast of Hokkaido claimed by Japan.