A boat carrying eight men claiming to be fishermen from North Korea washed ashore in Akita Prefecture in Japan on Thursday night, The Japan Times reported, quoting police officials. The men had no serious injuries and were speaking Korean. They have been taken into custody.
Unidentified police officials received a call from a resident in Yurihonjo city at 11.30 pm about the presence of suspicious individuals on the shore. They found the men on a wooden boat at a nearby marina.
The vessel had a plate bearing the word “Chongjin”, a city in North Korea, Kyodo News reported.
Hachiro Okonogi, chairman of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission, told reporters that the men claimed they were fishing before their boat broke down and washed ashore. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government would “respond appropriately” to the situation.
Several unidentified boats have been found on the Sea of Japan coast recently. In Aomori Prefecture, wooden boats bearing Korean words were found drifting ashore on November 19 and 20.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!