Two North Korean schooners caught poaching in Russia's Far East
The Russian coast guard detained two North Korean commercial vessels for violating Russian territorial waters and poaching in the Sea of Japan, a spokesperson for the border service said according to RIA Novosti.
"Both vessels were observed by the border service's air surveillance unit in Russia's economic zone. The coordinates were passed by the air crew to the coast guard...both vessels were detained for illegally poaching squid" Natalya Rondalyeva said.
Together the vessels had 700 kilograms of squid on board, and they were escorted to the port of Nakhodka for further investigation. Eighteen North Korean nationals were on board the vessels, the North Korean consulate in Nakhodka has been informed.
"Since the start of the year over 80 border incidents have been recorded involving commercial fishing vessels from North Korea whose sole reason for being in Russian territorial waters was commercial fishing," Rondolyeva said.