The joint Russian-Japanese-Korean exercises start in the Sea of Japan

The Russian-Japanese-Korean exercises for rescuing sailors in distress have started in the Sea of Japan. They are going on some 25 kilometres away from the island of Nakhodka, RIA Novosti was told on Monday in the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet. Taking part in these exercises, which are one of the episodes of the large-scale military and power structures of Russia in the Far East, are a Japanese destroyer with helicopters on board, a South Korean ship and three Russian rescue vessels.

Under the plan, the ice-breaker Magadan of the Far Eastern Marine Steamship Line gave a signal about a fire on its board. After that search of the ship started.

In the Khasan area, another episode of the exercises is going on - the mariners and air troops are landed on the Klerks peninsula with the aim of destroying a group of militants who have penetrated the site. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and seven observers from Canada, China, South Korea and Japan observe the operation.

The active phase of Vostok-2003 exercises started on August 23. They are going on simultaneously in the Maritime Territory, on Kamchatka and off the Sakhalin Island.