SEOUL South Korea and Russia plan to hold their first joint naval exercise to practice rescuing civilian ships in distress in South Korean waters around July or August, officials said Tuesday, according to AFP. "Discussions for the joint drill for marine search and rescue have entered the final stage," a government official said on condition of anonymity. The countries also seek to exchange port calls by their naval vessels during the joint drill. He said the exercise would probably take place in waters off the southern port of Pusan or off the southeastern port of Pohang.