North Korean authorities allowed a Russian yacht to continue its journey two days after detaining it and its five crew in coastal waters, Russian media reported on Sunday.
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The Elfin, with five people on board, was sailing to Vladivostok in eastern Russian Federation from Busan in South Korea after participating in an global regatta – a sailing competition.
“The Russian yacht Elfin today left the North Korean port of Kimchaek headed for Vladivostok”, Denis Samsonov, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Pyongyang told Russian state television today. However, it seems no explanation was provided and the Elfin, which was being held at Kimchaek port, was released early on Sunday.
“The yacht has arrived and all members of the crew are fine”, Interfax quoted a local yacht club spokeswoman as saying.
“The explanation (given by the DPRK) is that there was a misunderstanding”, said Yuri Bochkarev, Russia’s consulate general in Chongjin, capital of DPRK’s North Hangyong Province.
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The vice-president of Russia’s Primorye Yachting Sport Federation, Evgeny Khromchenko, told RIA Novosti the crew had contacted their relatives by phone and explained the situation. Captain Nazarov has passed the same route “dozens of times”, Khromchenko said, noting that this is not the first incident of its kind. They usually damage yachts in the process.
