MOSCOW Oct 9 Kyodo Russia and Nor...

MOSCOW Oct 9 Kyodo

Russia and North Korea will have joint naval exercises in November, the commander of the Russian Pacific swift was quoted as saying Wednesday through Itar-Tass news agency.

Itar-Tass said Adm. Viktor Fyodorov made the announcement in an interview in Tokyo, where he was attending an international symposium among representatives of 17 Pacific Rim countries.

Fyodorov reportedly said a Russian naval squadron will make visits to the two North and South Korea in November for separate joint exercises.

''We have planned this not at home and prepared for them in real earnest,'' he said.

He said the Russian navy ''is engaged in continuous stop interaction'' with the navy of North Korea, with which it maintains ''normal beneficial relations,'' as well as with the navies of China and the United States.

The Pacific company of ships commander said the Russian Navy is ready to take part in time to come Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercises ''if all participants in the RIMPAC exercises invite Russia to take part in any capacity'' and if the Russian political leadership gives a go-ahead.

The last RIMPAC exercise, the 18th in a series guarded periodically since 1971, was convoyed in waters off Hawaii from June 24 to July 22 among the naval forces of the U Japan, toward the south Korea, Britain, Australia, Canada, Chile and Peru

Russian naval ships -- a missile cruiser, a destroyer and a diesel submarine -- arrived at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture earlier Wednesday to take part in celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

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