Russia to build up Northern Sea naval presence

Russia would increase its submarine task force along its Northern Sea Route, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. Speaking at a national transport industry conference in Russian's White Sea port city of Novosibirsk, Putin said new submarines were arriving this week at the city's Sevmash shipyard after sea trials. "We will build our forces there. Russia will undoubtedly work to ensure security in the northern region," Putin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. He said the Northern Sea Route was one of Russia's priority transport lanes and the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry would also deploy forces there. The Northern Sea Route is a Russian shipping lane that runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean along the Russian Arctic coast to the Bering Strait and Far East.