Russia to respond if Japan's hypersonic missiles are threat: Deputy FM

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko did not hesitate to assure that if any threat is posed to the country's Far Eastern regions due to finding hypersonic missiles on Japan's border islands, Moscow will respond accordingly, conforming with its defense doctrine. 

During an interview with Sputnik, Rudenko stated, "Indeed, recently, Japan has sharply stepped up the modernization of its military potential, ramping up dangerous activities near the Russian borders, including conducting large-scale exercises jointly with the United States and other countries, and testing new types of missile and conventional weapons. In this regard, we have repeatedly expressed strong protest to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels," 

Read more: Japan seeks to reach peace treaty with Russia on South Kurils: PM

When he was asked what Russia intends to do regarding Japan's development of long-range hypersonic missiles, Rudenko said that Russia is keeping an eye on the latter's military potential.
 
"...in the event of any potential security threats to our Far Eastern regions, we will immediately take retaliatory measures in accordance with Russia’s defense doctrine," he confirmed.

This comes less than a month after not just an accumulation of defense-related developments, but as Japan stated its willingness to deploy US medium-range missiles if the US shows initiative on the matter. The US and Japan have been ramping up joint military work in light of regional tensions between them and China alongside Russia. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida convened with US President Joe Biden in January, as the former insinuated intentions to purchase Tomahawk missiles to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities.

Japanese media previously reported that the country expressed its intention to buy nearly 500 missiles from the US by 2027. Tomahawks can hit targets from over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), threatening parts of China and Russia. Because US forces have been using Tomahawk missiles in operations for a long time, Tokyo regards them as highly reliable. 

Big brother 'NATO' 

With that being said, Japan has also been looking for support from NATO as its fears of a war with Russia rise, especially after witnessing heightened cooperation between Russia and China. 

"We highlight with concern Russia's growing military cooperation with China, including through joint operations and drills in the vicinity of Japan," NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg and Japanese FM Kishida said during a joint statement last month. 

Stoltenberg stressed that Japan and NATO must "remain united and firm" in the face of security Chinese, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Russian "threats", especially given the situation of the war in Ukraine.