Russia detains over 80 North Korean sailors

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a top North Korean diplomatic representative in Moscow over the incident and he was later seen entering the ministry, RIA news agency reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. Picture taken April 25, 2019 (photo credit: ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. Picture taken April 25, 2019
(photo credit: ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Russia's  Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday it had detained over 80 North Korean citizens in Russian territorial waters in the Sea of Japan, during an incident in which two vessels were also captured, Russian news agencies reported. The FSB was cited as saying that one of the North Korean vessels attacked a Russian patrol ship.
A Russian border patrol discovered two North Korean schooners and 11 motorboats fishing illegally off its far eastern coast and detained the first vessel, prompting the second one to open fire, the FSB was quoted as saying.Three Russian border guards were wounded in the incident.
"Both vessels have been detained," local media cited the FSB as saying, adding later that more than 80 North Koreans had been detained.
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a top North Korean diplomatic representative in Moscow over the incident and he was later seen entering the ministry, RIA news agency reported.
The detained vessels are being taken to Russia's Far East port of Nakhodka, Interfax news agency quoted FSB as saying.
Moscow in July accused North Korea of illegally detaining one of its fishing vessels. Pyongyang said the crew had been detained for violating the rules of entry into North Korea.