‘North Korea GHOST ship’ packed with ‘defectors bodies’ washes up on the shore of Japan

The wooden vessel was discovered by the Japan Coast Guard on the western shore of Sado – the island in the Sea of Japan is 450miles from North Korea.

Cigarettes and life jackets appear to feature Korean lettering, suggesting the ship set sail from the hermit kingdom.

Harsh weather is suspected as playing a part in the incident with Professor Yoshihiko Yamada from Japan’s Tokai University stating that sailing becomes “dangerous” when strong winds are prevalent.

He said: “During the summer, the Sea of Japan is quite calm. But it starts to get choppy when November comes. It gets dangerous when northwesterly winds start to blow.”

Two similar bodies were discovered on the same shore over the weekend.

Last week saw a further eight fisherman found 44 miles south of Sado with damage on their boat appearing to support the idea that harsh weather in the Sea of Japan is to blame.

Other experts point to food shortages in the rogue state as a reason boats are having to sail further in an attempt to bring in a higher fishing yield.

Tensions between North Korea and Japan have risen astronomically after the latter has adopted a firm stance against the Kim Jong-un dictatorship that has only strengthened since Donald Trump visited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan recently increased its defences against Kim Jong-un’s deadly nuclear arsenal.

North Korea sparked fears of World War 3 after ignoring international sanctions to continue developing and testing nuclear weapons.

Mr Abe has promised to bolster his country’s defence, branding North Korea the gravest security concern Tokyo has faced since World War 2.

The Japanese Prime Minister described North Korea’s sixth nuclear test and two missile launches that flew over Japan as a national crisis, as he outlined his priorities to the nation’s parliament.

He promised stern action to respond to what he said were “escalating provocations” by North Korea.

Mr Abe said: “We will strengthen Japanese defence power, including missile defence capabilities, in order to protect the people’s lives and peace.”

Japan has increased its military spending since Mr Abe took office in 2012, with it’s Government planning to buy more American missile defence systems.

President Abe is “confident” of amending Japan’s pacifist constitution, which prevents the country from having a full-fledged military.

Tokyo recently warned that despot leader Kim Jong-un could initiate a missile test in the “next few days”.

A Japanese diplomat warned today that radio signals from the hermit state indicate that another test is approaching.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said the detection had been confirmed by government officials.

One official told them: “There is a possibility of missiles launches in the next few days.”