Japan is investigating a number of suspicious boats that have been found drifting off the country’s coastline with decaying bodies on board, officials have said. A piece of cloth resembling the North Korean flag was found on one of the boats, and another was labeled as belonging to the Korean People’s Armies.
Advertisement
Officials say dozens of wrecked boats drift toward Japan’s northwestern coasts facing the Sea of Japan every year. Apparently two bodies were found headless and one of the boats even carried the skulls of six sailors.
This year, officials have found 34 mystery boats so far, including the 11 found between late October and November.
Upon seeing pictures of the boats, he said its lettering – appearing to either be Korean or Hangul – and the “primitive” nature of the boats were enough to make a good assumption that the boats are probably from North Korea.
Isolated North Korea has sought to increase fishing to earn foreign currency and provide food to the army and government officials in a country often hit by starvation. These boats are more likely to be wayward fishing vessels from the North Korean army.
A maritime expert interviewed by the NHK said the wooden boats resembled those that have previously arrived carrying defectors from the Korean dictatorship, and could easily have been sent awry on the ocean.
“Mr Yamada said: “[The boats] are made of wood and are old and heavy.
NHK reports that at least one boat had fishing nets and lights used to attract squid, leading some experts to believe the boats may have simply been fishing without radar or other modern equipment and run into trouble.
“Kim Jong-un is pushing hard to produce more fish”.
Advertisement
He added that defectors could be taking the more risky route across the Sea of Japan because traditional routes, like crossing the border into China, are now policed and could be harder to use.
