Vladimir Yeroshkin, a Russian rescue coordination center spokesman, said the Russian ship was stopped by North Korean forces 3-5 miles off shore as it was traveling from the Japanese port of Hamata to Russia, RIA Novosti reported.

Yeroshkin said the commercial ship, which reportedly was carrying a batch of cars, may have incidentally entered North Korean waters during its journey across the Sea of Japan.

"It (the Russian vessel) could have violated the North Korean border," Yeroshkin said.

The exact reasons for the ship's interception, along with the status of those on board, were unknown.

Saturday's incident marks the first time since 2005 that a Russian vessel has been detained by North Korean forces.

In 2005, a Russian ship trapped in a storm attempted to find safe harbor in North Korean waters only to be detained for a border violation. Diplomacy between the two countries resulted in the ship's release two weeks later.