North Korean Boats Drift

Before a ballistic missile from touches down on the mainland Japan, a number of fishing boats have been arriving from North Korea. One wooden fishing boat arrived on Matsumae Kojima Island, Hokkaido, on Tuesday. It is supposed that the crew had landed on the island and stolen some electric appliances from unmanned cabin. While it is not proved to be invasion or asylum, North Korea seems to be in want of seafood even violating Japan’s sovereignty.

Japan Coast Guard confirmed that the boat was in a port of Matsumae Kojima, a small island without permanent resident located offshore Matsumae Town in southwest Hokkaido. After staying a night to avoid stormy weather, it left the island next day. JCG found the boat cruising in the sea, ignoring questions in Korean language from the patrol ships. The boat is mostly wrecked, while its engine still works. JCG reconfirmed that ten North Korean seamen were on board.

JCG found some goods in the boat, including television or outboard motor for boats. They were installed in a small cabin in Matsumae Kojima, which was used by Japanese fishermen working around the island. It was likely that the North Korean seamen had stolen them while they stayed there. They dumped those goods into the sea after JCG’s discovery.

If they had stolen the goods, it would be a crime of theft. The seamen have to be punished under Japanese law. However, there is no action in JCG to arrest them. Moreover, the landing of a Japanese island without immigration process must be an act of smuggling. While Japanese Self-defense Force is focusing on the strategy of protecting isolated island from illegal occupation. But, JSDF has made no action on the incident. Seriousness in defense policy matters.

Drifted North Korean boats had consecutively been witnessed in Japan’s coast facing Japan Sea last month. In offshore Noto Peninsula, JCG found wrecked North Korean boat, finding seven seamen dead and three alive. Another boat arrived at the coast of Yurihonjo City, Akita, and took eight seamen into custody. From the boat arrived in the coast of Oga City, Akita, the police found eight corpses.

News reports in Japan indicates that food supply is seriously in short in North Korea, possibly caused by international economic sanction against the missile and nuclear development by Kim Jong-un regime. The regime encourages the fishery workers getting the sea products from Japan Sea. North Korea threatens Japanese fishermen not only by missile tests but wooden boats rushing to Japan’s exclusive economic zone.