Intended as a symbol of friendship between the two nations, Tokyo has agreed to give 4 billion yen to Russia to help it dismantle five decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines, sources said.

Relations between Tokyo and Moscow remain strained over the ongoing Northern Territories issue.

Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura is to propose the plan today at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow.

Four of the subs are mothballed in Vladivostok. The fifth is in Kamchatka. Four are attack subs-three Victor-III class and a Victor-I class. The last is a Charlie-I class sub designed to carry cruise missiles.

Work will be shared by both sides, with Japan handling the actual dismantling as well as transporting and storing their nuclear reactors. Russia will be in charge of safekeeping the spent nuclear fuel, the sources said.

More than 30 retired nuclear subs still await disposal on Russia's Pacific coast. However, due to corrosion, these five are most at risk of sinking and leaking radioactive waste into the sea.

Japan began cooperating on sub dismantlement in 1993. But the work bogged down due to poor coordination between the two countries.

Work finally resumed after an action plan was signed between the two sides following the completion of a facility for disposing of liquid radioactive waste such as coolants. The first retired nuclear sub was dismantled last October.(IHT/Asahi: January 14,2005)