DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military on Tuesday to step up its presence in the Arctic after Canada signalled its intention to claim the North Pole and surrounding waters.

‘I would like you to devote special attention to deploying infrastructure and military units in the Arctic,’ Putin told a Russian defence ministry meeting in televised remarks.

The Straits Times publishes this report.

BDST: 1652 HRS, DEC 10, 2013