ID :
206426
Sat, 09/10/2011 - 20:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206426
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Gov't says 20 more Russian naval ships sailed off Hokkaido on Friday
TOKYO, Sept. 10 Kyodo -
Japan's Defense Ministry said Saturday it has confirmed that 20 more Russian naval vessels passed through an international strait north of Hokkaido to the Sea of Okhotsk on Friday in addition to four such ships it reported earlier.
The Russian fleet of 24 ships was the largest spotted sailing in the Soya Strait in one day in the last decade, according to the ministry. Their passage through the strait does not violate any international laws because the strait is treated as high seas.
The fleet came on the heels of a Japanese move Friday asking Russia not to take ''provocative'' military action after two Russian bombers flew near Japanese airspace the previous day. The bombers were refueled in midair in airspace off Hokkaido.
The Russian Navy reportedly plans to conduct shooting training in the Sea of Okhotsk including an area near the Kuril Islands. The ministry said it believes the Russian vessels were heading for the drill.
The ministry said the 20 vessels included a missile cruiser, landing ship, submarine rescue vessel and hospital ship. They moved in the strait from 8 p.m. to around 10 p.m. They came from the Sea of Japan.
The ministry reported Friday it confirmed four vessels sailed in the area to the Sea of Okhotsk around 4 p.m.
2011-09-11 01:41:52
Japan's Defense Ministry said Saturday it has confirmed that 20 more Russian naval vessels passed through an international strait north of Hokkaido to the Sea of Okhotsk on Friday in addition to four such ships it reported earlier.
The Russian fleet of 24 ships was the largest spotted sailing in the Soya Strait in one day in the last decade, according to the ministry. Their passage through the strait does not violate any international laws because the strait is treated as high seas.
The fleet came on the heels of a Japanese move Friday asking Russia not to take ''provocative'' military action after two Russian bombers flew near Japanese airspace the previous day. The bombers were refueled in midair in airspace off Hokkaido.
The Russian Navy reportedly plans to conduct shooting training in the Sea of Okhotsk including an area near the Kuril Islands. The ministry said it believes the Russian vessels were heading for the drill.
The ministry said the 20 vessels included a missile cruiser, landing ship, submarine rescue vessel and hospital ship. They moved in the strait from 8 p.m. to around 10 p.m. They came from the Sea of Japan.
The ministry reported Friday it confirmed four vessels sailed in the area to the Sea of Okhotsk around 4 p.m.
2011-09-11 01:41:52
