N Korea frees Russian ship

27 Feb, 2008 03:30 / Updated 16 years ago

A Russian ship detained by the North Korean coast guard in the Sea of Japan has been released.

The Lydia Demesh had been carrying a cargo of used cars from Japan to the Russian port of Vladivostok when it was stopped last week. Officials have suggested the boat was detained after it strayed into North Korean waters to avoid bad weather. It was being held in the port of Kimchaek while the dispute was settled, and is now due back in Russia.