Russia begins massive naval drills in Pacific
Russia began naval drills in the Pacific on Tuesday, including anti-submarine and airstrike exercises, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.
The announcement comes ahead of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea on Tuesday aimed at establishing a strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang, which are linked by "unshakable brotherly ties of comrades-in-arms," according to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The drills, involving some 40 boats, ships and vessels as well as some 20 aircraft and helicopters, will continue "from June 18 to 28 in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk" in Russia's far east, the defense ministry said.
A video released by the ministry shows several ships and submarines sailing off the Sea of Japan in Vladivostok, the main port of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
The statement explained that "this year, the maneuvers will be bilateral for the first time between the Primorsky Fleet, which includes various forces of the Pacific Fleet, and the joint command of the forces in the northeastern regions of Russia."
The command of the Russian Navy in the Pacific Ocean indicated in its statement that "the sailors will have to conduct exercises to repel attacks by drones and boats, conduct a set of practical combat exercises, practice anti-submarine operations, organize all types of defense of ship detachments during sea passage, joint launches, as well as missile strikes against imaginary enemy naval groups."
