Vladivostok (Russia), June 05: Russian and Japanese coastguards carried out joint exercises early today aimed at fighting smugglers off the northern Japanese island of Hokaido, a spokesman for the Russian Guards' Regional Office in Vladivostok said. The drill involved two Russian ships, as well as four Japanese vessels and a Japanese helicopter, the spokesman added. Smuggling and poaching are rife in the north pacific, particularly in the area between Japan, Russia and the Korean Peninsula. Bureau Report