The communist regime led by Kim Jong-un could be sending spies to Japan on fishing boats, Japan’s Cabinet Secretary warned today but added the situation needed to be clarified.
The alarm has been raised as an increasing number of fishing boats from North Korea have been appearing off the coast of Japan – some in distress, some abandoned and some with dead bodies on board – which has caused concern as tensions in the region continue to escalate as North Korea continues to develop its missile and nuclear capabilities.
The Japanese coastguard has beefed up patrols in response to the boats – including one labelled military property – just off the coast, or even grounded on Japanese beaches.
The coastguard and analysts of North Korea have played down the fears, attributing the surge in boats to more mundane reasons, such as a North Korean drive to increase winter fish catches.
But Japanese authorities warned the boats are causing great distress amid fears spies are infiltrating Japan.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: “The government is well aware that this is causing great anxiety to local people.
“The police and coastguard are working to clarify the situation.
”Once we have the facts, we will respond firmly.”
There were 28 cases of boats adrift off Japan’s coast or grounded on its shores in November, the coastguard said, compared with four in November last year.
One of the boats was a 14-metre wooden vessel from North Korea found off the northern island of Hokkaido with 10 crew on board.
A square plate was attached to the boat reading: “Korean People’s Army, No. 854 military unit” in Korean script.
It raised alarm in Japan, which North Korea has threatened to destroy amid tension over Pyongyang’s relentless development of nuclear bombs and missiles.
Police and the coastguard questioning the crew declined to comment.
A day before that boat was detained, eight decomposed bodies were found in a small boat washed up on a beach. Also on board were life jackets bearing Korean lettering.
In another incident eight men who said they were from North Korea were found wandering along a marina.
Tetsuro Fukuyama, the leader of Japan’s main opposition the Constitutional Democratic Party said: “I have no intention to stoke fears.
“What about the risk of these people, if they are special agents, making a landing just when some military operation is going on?”
Analysts point to rising demand for fish in North Korea, and competition with Chinese boats, pushing North Korean fishermen further out to sea.
North Korea is calling for bigger catches from fishermen sailing rough winter seas in small, old boats with unreliable engines.
North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper last month urged fishermen to fight their “important battle” of meeting annual quotas in winter.
It said: “Fish are like bullets and artillery shells.”
Nihon University professor Ken Kotani said he did not think the boats signalled a North Korean spy campaign, noting that local authorities were handling the situation.
He said: “The government has entrusted this to local police.”
Satoru Miyamato, professor at Seigakuin University, said he suspected growing demand for fish was luring more fishermen to sea in rickety boats.
He said: “The number of wealthy people is growing and they’re seeking a healthy diet. Fishing is meeting that demand.”