VLADIVOSTOK, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian border guards have rescued 19 North Korean fishermen caught in a storm in the Sea of Japan, a spokeswoman for the border guards said Monday.

"Late on Sunday Russian border guards spotted a fishing vessel with 18 people onboard in the Russian waters," the spokeswoman said. "Some time later, a boat with one North Korean fisherman was found."

An investigation established that the poor weather conditions forced fishermen to cross the Russian border.

Once the probe is over and all necessary procedures have been completed, the vessels will be transferred to North Korean border guards.

Russian border guards often rescue North Korean fishermen, who put to sea in old vessels without proper navigation systems. So far this year, a total of 11 vessels with 56 people onboard have been rescued in Russian territorial waters.