Russia deeply concerned about U.S. missile defense in Japan - Lavrov
MOSCOW. Nov 24 (Interfax) - The deployment of U.S. missile-defense systems in Japan is a profound concern of Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference on Friday after talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
"We have expressed our profound concern substantiated with facts because Japan, like South Korea, is turning into a territory hosting elements of the U.S. global missile-defense system, which is being deployed in the region under the pretext of threats coming from North Korea and in Europe under the pretext of the Iran threat," Lavrov said.
"If you take a look at a map, you will see that the U.S. missile-defense system is encircling Russia and China," Lavrov said.
He also said he had discussed Tokyo's procurement of U.S. weapons with Abe.
"We discussed those issues," Lavrov said, adding that Russia had never criticized Japan for doing so.