Kanamori Mitzo of Hakui, a village in Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan\u2019s central-west coast, was tending to his seaweed harvest on a night in February when he suddenly saw a dark object floating on the waves. He cautiously approached, having quickly guessed that it was the remnants of yet another fishing vessel from North Korea, a “ghost ship.” As the object came into full view, he could make out the shape of a wooden boat, overturned but intact, perched on a rock. As he glanced over the fading Korean letters painted on the wooden panels, he thought, \u201cHow could a boat like this possibly be out to sea?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Kanamori met with Daily NK on May 12 to discuss the three abandoned North Korean fishing boats that had recently washed ashore along the Japanese coast. The three boats were found abandoned off the coast of Saiaki in February and March. This area marks Japan\u2019s furthest western point and the Korean peninsula\u2019s furthest point east, and where the distance between the two is shortest.<\/p>\n
Banai Yoshiaka, a journalist for the Hokkoku Shimbun, has been reporting on the North Korean “ghost ship” issue in Ishikawa Prefecture since last fall. He met Mr. Kanamori, and together they helped guide Daily NK on this story<\/a>. As we approached the area, Mr. Kanamori\u2019s eyes widened as he pointed to the location of the shipwrecks and said, \u201cSome of the planks have been swept away, but the boat is in relatively good condition.\u201d He later added that it was the first time he had seen three shipwrecked boats together.<\/p>\n \u201cNorth Korean boats are usually swept away in the East Sea of Sea of Japan after the fall, but from last year the number has increased dramatically,\u201d he said, further explaining that most North Korean boats tended to wash up on the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture due to the strong winds and current. However, from the beginning of last year, they began appearing in the northern regions of Yamagata, and even as far away as Hokkaido. Some of the North Korean fishermen are fortunate enough to make it to the Japanese shore alive, but many do not.<\/p>\n\r\n