Andrei Makeyev, a spokesman for ship-owner Ardis, said the Terney's crew was following the recommendations of the Russian transportation and foreign ministries to head for the port pending investigation in the presence of Russian diplomats.
"There are no representatives of the North Korean authorities aboard," he said.
The crew is waiting for Russian diplomats and the beginning of the investigation into the incident, scheduled to take place in the presence of the Russian consul general in the port of Chongjin.
The Terney was returning to the Russian Pacific port of Vladivostok from the South Korean port of Busan when it encountered a heavy storm in the Sea of Japan December 5.
According to the ship's log, the captain changed course toward the North Korean coast after receiving permission from local authorities to enter the country's territorial waters. But North Korean authorities detained the Russian vessel regardless.
