In less than a day after Japan’s new policy chief Seiji Maehara recommended changes to Japan’s military policies, Russia has declared a no fly zone north of Japan.

The no fly zone could be part of Russia’s planned war games in the Sea of Okhotsk, northeast of Hokkaido.  Japan is asking for details from Russia.

Russian officials are confirming that two of their Tu 95 Bear bombers flew around Japan. But insisted they were over international water.  The Japanese scrambled fighter jets, the Japanese pilots confirmed the Russian bombers were over international water.

These incidents have got the fragile Japanese government on edge.  Russia and Japan are disputing claims over islands north of Hokkaido.