Russia and China started naval exercises in the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Russian news agencies cited Russia's Pacific Fleet as saying.

China-Russia navy drills show they are willing and able to undermine growing military ties between US, Japan and South Korea, analysts say.

Russia and China on Saturday began their joint naval military exercise in the Sea of Japan. "A joint group of warships of the Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy sailed from Vladivostok to conduct a joint Russian-Chinese naval exercise Beibu/Interaction - 2024," the press service of the Russian Pacific Fleet said in a statement.

Chinese state media said the drills, named Northern/Interaction-2024, aim to deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries and strengthen their ability to respond to security threats.

The Russian Pacific Fleet and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China have concluded joint naval exercises named "Ocean-2024" in the Sea of Japan. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense and URA,

Local media in Japan suggested the Chinese ships were on their way to drills with Russia announced by Beijing on Monday.

Second such joint drills in as many years come amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over support for US efforts to pressure China.

China and Russia are set to conduct a new round of joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan later this month, according to a statement from China's Defense Ministry. The exercises, named "Northern/Interaction 2024,

China Coast Guard ships Meishan and Xiushan have arrived in Russia's Far East port of Vladivostok to conduct joint exercises and patrols with their Russian counterparts, RIA state news agency reported on Tuesday.