VLADIVOSTOK, December 19 (RIA Novosti)-The authorities in North Korea have given permission to a Russian ship detained in the country's territorial waters since December 5 to return home, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang said Monday.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was told that the competent authorities had made the decision to release the vessel due to the "friendly relations" between the countries.

The Terney was detained after it entered North Korean waters to sit out a storm in the Sea of Japan.