Russian jet intercepts a B-52

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Russia’s Defense Ministry claims Moscow has test-fired anti-ship missiles in the Sea of Japan. The ministry this morning two boats launched a simulated missile attack on a mock enemy warship about 100 kilometers (60 miles) away.

The target was successfully hit by two Moskit cruise missiles, Russia claims.

The Moskit, whose NATO reporting name is the SS-N-22 Sunburn, is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile that has conventional and nuclear warhead capacity.

It said the exercise took place in the Peter the Great Gulf in the Sea of Japan but did not give more precise coordinates.

The gulf borders the Russian Pacific Fleet headquarters at Fokino and is about 700 kilometers (430 miles) from Japan’s northern Hokkaido Island.

Japan’s Defense Ministry had no immediate response. The US Navy’s 7th Fleet did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russian nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for several hours last week.

In September, Japan protested multinational military exercises on the Russian-held Kuril Islands – some of which are claimed by Japan — and expressed concern about Russian and Chinese warships conducting shooting drills in the Sea of Japan.

Russia also tested submarine-launched missiles in the Sea of Japan last year.

The latest move comes a day after Russian security chief Nikolay Patushev claimed Japan was becoming “militatised” again in an interview with a Russian state-backed newspaper.

He claimed: “Washington has pushed Tokyo toward militarising once again.

“Japan’s self-defence forces are becoming a full-fledged army capable of conducting offensive operations.”

Referring to World War 2, Patrushev accused the US of wanting “to make the citizens of the island state (Japan – TASS) kamikazes again, dying for the interests of others”.

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