TORONTO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday (Saturday in Manila) warned about Russia's military buildup in the Arctic and China's increasing interest in that part of the world.

During a visit to Canada's north, Stoltenberg said the shortest path to North America for Russian missiles and bombers was over the North Pole. According to him, Russia has set up a new Arctic Command and has opened hundreds of new and former Soviet-era Arctic military sites, including airfields and deep-water ports.