Russian-South Korean border guards hold joint exercise

A Russian-South Korean anti-terrorist exercise of border guards began on Wednesday in the Sea of Japan.

The manoeuvres are taking place in the area of the South Korean port city of Pusan, RIA Novosti was told at the press-centre of the Pacific border directorate of Russia's FSB.

They involve two Russian border patrol ships - Primorye and Nevelsk - a special FSB rapid reaction group, and also six ships, two helicopters and a special group of Marine commandos of the National Maritime Police Agency of the Republic of Korea.

All in all, 250 men are taking part in the manoeuvres on both sides at sea and in the air, it was noted at the press-centre of Pacific border guards.

The Russian-South Korean border guard exercise is oriented towards thwarting terrorism at sea.

In the course of the manoeuvres the sides will be practising actions to render harmless terrorists who, according to the exercise scenario, "will capture" a civilian vessel and take "hostage" the entire crew.

The exercise will go through the entire chain of anti-terrorist operations: from receiving a signal about the capture of the ship to the release of the "hostages", giving medical assistance to the "wounded", their evacuation to border guard ships and landing on the shore.

Participants of the exercise will also have to put out a fire on the vessel which will start after the "terrorists" activate a token explosive device.

The sea exercise of border guards is taking place as part of a friendly call by Russian patrol border ships to the Republic of Korea. The visit at the invitation of the National Maritime Police Agency of the Republic of Korea will last from June 15 to 18.

A considerable role in the visit programme will be played by an exchange of views between Russian and South Korean border guards on the questions of mutual curbing of arms and drugs traffic and poaching.

The Russian border guards will also make visits to the town hall and Russia's consulate-general in Pusan, and familiarise themselves with the memorial places and history of the port city.