Besides the Pacific Fleet, the exercises would involve troops of the far eastern military bases, border guards, police, rescue agencies and security services, officials said.

A total 75 warships, over 20 aircraft and 30,000 soldiers and experts would be included in the operation, which "has no precedent in the history of Russian navy by scale, diversity of its participants and the space covered," officials added.

South Korean and Japanese ships and planes would also take part in the exercises, which would be monitored by experts from the United States, Canada, China and North Korea.

WAR.WIRE