Russian yacht Katalexa was detained by N. Korean border guards by mistake, may leave N. Korea seaport on Sat - embassy
MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - The Katalexa yacht, which was reportedly seized by a supposedly North Korean vessel, has been detained as a result of a misunderstanding and may leave North Korea as early as this Saturday, the Russian embassy said.
Russia's Consul General Yury Bochkaryov held on Friday the meetings with the authorities of the North Korean city of Rajin and representatives of the border guard station at the seaport of Rajin, where the yacht had been escorted to, the Russian embassy to North Korea said in a post on its Facebook page on Friday.
"Over the course of discussions, the Korean side revealed that the Russian boat had been detained owing to a misunderstanding and that there were no complaints about the crew," the Russian embassy said.
"Allegedly owing to an anti-poaching campaign currently ongoing in the country, North Korean fishermen noticed a vessel flying a foreign flag and going at silent speed around the exclusive economic zone at the distance of 50-60 miles from the coast. The fishermen displayed an excessive vigilance and reported to the border guard service. Border guards arrived at the scene, detained the vessel and started an appropriate inquiry, having escorted it [the vessel] to the port of Rajin," the embassy said.
Bochkaryov also met the yacht's crewmembers, it said. "All they are well and in a good spirit. The crew is acknowledging a friendly attitude on the part of local authorities. The North Korean side is providing them with water and necessary food products. The consul general assisted in organizing radio communication between the Russian nationals and their relatives," the embassy said.
"Representatives of the North Korean border service told Bochkaryov that once the relevant formalities are met the vessel will be permitted to leave the port on June 17," it said.
Primorye Territory's media reported earlier citing the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center that the Russian yacht Katalexa sent out a mayday call from the Sea of Japan on June 14. According to the media, the yacht had supposedly been seized by a North Korean vessel.
In turn, the Primorye Maritime Rescue Coordination Center told Interfax that they had learned on Thursday about Katalexa's seizure by a North Korean vessel in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan.