N Korea seizes Russian yacht in neutral waters

North Korean coast guards intercepted a Russian yacht in neutral waters and escorted it to port without giving an explanation, on Saturday.

The Russian embassy in Pyongyang demanded the immediate release of the Russian vessel and its crew, which was captured on Friday.

Sportsmen aboard the Elfin yacht were returning to Vladivostok from an international regatta in the South Korean port of Busan, when it was waylaid by what had appeared to be a fishing boat sailing under the North Korean flag. 

The incident occurred some 85 nautical miles off the shores of North Korea. According to Vesti Primorye, the captain of the Russian vessel, Dmitry Nazarov, was forced to board the North Korean vessel, while four     other members of the crew locked themselves inside the yacht.