N.Korea, Russia consider naval cooperation

North Korea and Russia plan to increase their naval cooperation, a Russian military spokesman said. Senior commanders from the two nations have been considering such steps and the issue was discussed during the current North Korea visit of Adm. Konstantin Sidenko, commander of Russia's Eastern Military District, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Sidenko spokesman Lt. Col. Igor Muginov. Sidenko and senior North Korean military commanders also discussed the possibilities of holding joint search and rescue exercises and humanitarian drills in the open sea, Muginov told reporters. Among those Sidenko met was Ri Yong Ho, chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army, the spokesman said. Sidenko also visited a KPA unit. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited Russia for a week last month, and later visited China.