Japan's Prime Minister Postpones Visit, Citing Putin's Health Problems
Japanese media are reporting Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has
postponed a visit to Russia planned for next month citing President
Vladimir Putin's health problems, RIA Novosti reported.
Kyodo and Jiji news agencies said Noda talked about the delay while
meeting municipal officials during his trip to the northern island
of Hokkaido on Thursday.
The reports quoted an official as saying Noda mentioned "Putin's
health problems."
The question of Putin's health has been the subject of intense
media speculation recently.
Last week, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told Reuters
that Putin had hurt his back practicing judo.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has acknowledged Putin strained
his back last month, but on November 30 dismissed reports of
serious problems as "highly exaggerated."
Peskov says a visit by the Japanese prime minister could take place
in January, 2013.
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