THE FLEXING of military muscles has spread beyond North Korea, with both Russia and China demonstrating their might to nervous neighbours.

China held a `surprise' naval exercise in the disputed South China Sea earlier this week as Russia put on a show of its resurgent military strength in the Black Sea.

China's activity in the disputed region involved some of its most modern warships.

An amphibious assault exercise - where amphibious landing craft deployed troops - was conducted just 80km off the Malaysian coast.

James Shoal, where the exercise took place, is the southern-most island China has laid claim to in the South China Sea, including the contentious Spratly Islands.

Chinese soldiers and marines reportedly conducted a ceremony on the island, vowing to "defend Chinese sovereignty".

On Monday, Vietnam accused China of opening fire on one of its fishing boats in the area. China denied the claim.

NORTH KOREA - MORE BARK THAN BITE?

A GLIMPSE OF NORTH KOREAS PLANS?

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Half a world away, Russian President Vladmir Putin ordered a surprise military exercise from his presidential jet on a flight home from a United Nations conference in South Africa. The exercise in the Black Sea involved 30 navy ships, dozens of combat aircraft and hundreds of armored vehicles.

The Kremlin said the exercise was intended to test the military's ability to conduct a quick response.

Putin, who was elected for a third presidential term last year, has made the restoration of Russia's military power one of his top priorities.

Several successive squadrons of Russian navy ships have visited the Syrian port of Tartus, the only naval base Russia has outside the Soviet Union, the voyages intended to underline Moscow's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said that Russia plans to establish a permanent navy presence in the Mediterranean similar to the one it had during the Soviet times.

Putin flew in a military helicopter to watch the manoeuvres.

The Kremlin launched a military reform in the wake of the 2008 war with Georgia, when the Russian army struggled to quickly deploy its units to the conflict area with dozens of tanks and other armoured vehicles stranded by technical malfunctions on the march.

In its attempt to reform its military, Moscow has cut the number of officers and streamlined its military units.

The military also has sought to increase the number and scope of military exercises, helped by high oil prices.