RUSSIAN vessel, the Sevastopol, is being 'illegally' held in Busan, Russia's Foreign Ministry claims and has demanded that Seoul 'immediately' allow the shipping vessel to leave the port.
A statement said the Russian side demanded that the South Korean 'maritime authorities' ban on the vessel leaving the port be immediately cancelled,' without mentioning the reason for the alleged detention, reported Radio Free Europe.
Russian news agencies quoted the South Korean ambassador, Woo Yoon-keun, as saying that he expects the issue to be 'definitively' resolved shortly.
'We expect that relations between Russia and South Korea will continue to develop successfully,' he also told journalists.
Russian media reported that the Sevastopol and its crew of 14 Russians docked at Busan in mid-August for repairs.
A vessel named Sevastopol was one of six Russian-flagged ships targeted by US sanctions in August for allegedly helping North Korea evade United Nations sanctions.
The vessel's operator, Gudzon Shipping Co., was also sanctioned based on an accusation of conducting unlawful trade with North Korea.
A statement said the Russian side demanded that the South Korean 'maritime authorities' ban on the vessel leaving the port be immediately cancelled,' without mentioning the reason for the alleged detention, reported Radio Free Europe.
Russian news agencies quoted the South Korean ambassador, Woo Yoon-keun, as saying that he expects the issue to be 'definitively' resolved shortly.
'We expect that relations between Russia and South Korea will continue to develop successfully,' he also told journalists.
Russian media reported that the Sevastopol and its crew of 14 Russians docked at Busan in mid-August for repairs.
A vessel named Sevastopol was one of six Russian-flagged ships targeted by US sanctions in August for allegedly helping North Korea evade United Nations sanctions.
The vessel's operator, Gudzon Shipping Co., was also sanctioned based on an accusation of conducting unlawful trade with North Korea.