- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Russian ship arrested by N. Korea for border violation - embassy

Subscribe
A Russian ship arrested by North Korean coast guards on Saturday morning is accused of violating the North Korean border, the Russian embassy to North Korea said on Sunday.
MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian ship arrested by North Korean coast guards on Saturday morning is accused of violating the North Korean border, the Russian embassy to North Korea said on Sunday.

The Russian Lidiya Demesh vessel was carrying a batch of cars from the Japanese port of Hamata to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, when a North Korean border guard vessel stopped it near Cape Musudan, three to five miles from North Korea's shores.

"They [the crew] are accused of border violation," an embassy official said on the phone.

At the same time, the diplomat said the crewmembers were safe and the Russian consul general was maintaining close contacts with them.

"I hope that our vessel will be soon released without any conditions," the diplomat said.

Another Russian vessel was arrested by the North Korean Coast Guard Service near Cape Musudan in December 2005. The Ternei ship was caught in a storm on its way from South Korea to Vladivostok. The captain decided to seek shelter in the North Korean territorial waters in line with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and informed North Korea of his intention.

However, the Ternei was later on arrested for border violation by North Korean border guards. The Russian ship was convoyed to the port of Kimch'aek and released two weeks later through the mediation of Russian diplomats.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала