Russian and S Korean frontiersmen to hold anti-piracy exercise

01.07.2010 Russian and S Korean frontiersmen will hold joint exercise on July 7 in the Sea of Japan and train anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and anti-terror activities, said Lt. Col. Natalia Rondaleva, the head of press-group, Primorsky Krai branch of FSB Frontier Service.

"Patrol ships and aviation of the two countries will take part in joint tactical drill in S Korean territorial waters. Among them are two Russian and three Korean ships, two helicopters (Russia FSB aviation and Korea National Maritime Police Agency), two boats and marine teams from each country", she said Thursday to RIA Novosti.

According to her, frontiersmen will train cooperation against illegal activities at sea, i.e. search, pursuit, and detain a vessel "hijacked" by terrorists, neutralize criminals, rescue crew, and extinguish fire occurred as a result of bomb explosion.

"The tactical exercise will be conducted within a framework of official visit of Russian frontiersmen to S Korea. On July 4 Russian FSB patrol ship Herluf Bidstrup with helicopter Ka-27 on board and Coast Guard ship Bug will lay a course for S Korean port Mukho. They are awaited by eastern regional department of Korea National Maritime Police Agency in Donghae City. Russian frontiersmen will stay four days there – since July 6 till July 9", Rondaleva informed.

According to her, Russian delegation is headed by Gen. Col. Viktor Trufanov, chief of FSB Coast Guard; Korean delegation is led by general superintendent Kim San Chol, the head of eastern branch of Korea National Maritime Police Agency in Donghae City.

"The program of visit also includes mutual attendance of ships, the open days, sightseeing tours, and sport events. Song and dance company of Russian FSB Frontier Service which also takes part in the visit will give several concerts", said the interviewee.