Russian Pacific Fleet commander in S. Korea to promote ties: Navy

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- The commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet has come to
South Korea to discuss joint ways to better ensure the safety of passageways for
merchant ships in the region, South Korea's Navy said Tuesday.

V. Adm. Sidenko Konstantin Semenovich arrived in South Korea on Monday, the Navy
said in a release. Semenovich, who first visited Seoul last year, will meet
Wednesday with South Korea's top admiral, Jung Ok-keun, to also discuss ways to
promote cooperation between the sides in their fight against piracy in Somali
waters.
South Korea and Russia are each operating a naval unit in the Gulf of Aden to
fight pirates under a U.S.-led multinational drive.
"The two will have talks over ways to cooperate in their fight against Somali
pirates and promote the security of maritime passageways in the Northeast Asian
region that is emerging as the center of the global economy," the Navy said.
The four-day visit marks the ninth exchange between high-ranking naval officers
of the two countries since they set up diplomatic relations in 1990, the Navy
said.
Semenovich and Jung will also discuss plans to commemorate the 20th anniversary
of diplomatic normalization between the two countries, the Navy said. The year
also marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Russian Pacific Fleet,
which Semenovich has commanded since December 2007, according to the Navy.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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