North Korea is allowing foreigners to tour a U-S Navy spy vessel that it seized in the East Sea in 1968.

The USS Pueblo, a 176-foot World War II-era converted cargo vessel, had been open for public display only to citizens since its seizure.

A Chinese Internet portal said Pyongyang last month disclosed an apology letter from the United States at the time of the incident, and that foreign tourists are now allowed on board the vessel.

The North regards the Pueblo as its greatest spoil of war from the United States after the Korean War in the 1950s. The vessel was moved from Wonsan to the Daedong River in 1999 for visitors to see.

The United States sent the apology in a bid to rescue 82 American crew members detained in the North for 11 months, admitting the vessel did intrude into North Korean waters on a spying mission.