North Korean authorities have reportedly released the crew of a Russian yacht detained two days ago and allowed the vessel to continue its journey.
Russian media quoted Russia's consul-general in Chongjin, North Korea's third-largest city, as saying the yacht was detained "by mistake."
The yacht and it crew of five were en route from the South Korean port of Pusan to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East on May 13 when it was seized 80 miles off the coast of North Korea's economic zone.
Russia's consul-general in Chongjin was quoted in Russian media as saying a North Korean fishing boat had spotted an image it identified as South Korean on the yacht, which was then towed off to the port of Kimchaek.
Russia, which has a short land border with North Korea, has relatively friendly ties with Pyongyang.