By RIA Novosti
Vladivostok (Russia) : North Korean authorities Wednesday released a Russian cargo ship seized Saturday in the Sea of Japan, a regional rescue service official said Wednesday.
He said the ship, with a crew of 25, was released Wednesday morning and was now on its way to Vladivostok. It was expected to reach the largest port in Far East Thursday evening.
“All 25 crew members are alive and well,” said the official.
The Russian vessel, Lidiya Demesh, was carrying a shipment of cars from the Japanese port of Hamata to Vladivostok when it was stopped by the North Korean coast guards near Cape Musudan, three to five miles from North Korea’s shores, on ground that it had violated North Korean maritime border.
General Consul in Chongjin Yevgeny Valkovich said Monday he had reached an agreement with North Korean authorities over the release of the boat.
According to some reports, the Lidiya Demesh may have been detained for straying too close to a North Korean missile-testing site.