Japanese authorities questioning crew of suspected N. Korean boat(wandered into Aomori, Japan)

Yonhap News ^ | 06/02/07

[TigerLikesRooster]

Japanese authorities questioning crew of suspected N. Korean boat

TOKYO, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Japanese authorities are questioning the crew of a small wooden boat that may have arrived from North Korea, media sources said Saturday.

The open motor boat, measuring 7-8 meters long, arrived in the port of Kukaura in Aomori Prefecture 575 kilometers north of Tokyo, Kyodo News said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

A Kyodo News Summary:

• A boat of unknown national origin was spotted at Fukaura, Fukaura-cho, Aomori Perfecture, 575km NE of Tokyo, between 6:30am and 7am on June 2nd, 2007.
• Three men and a woman were on board, who were between 20 and 60 years of age.
• Residents immediately reported it to a local police station.
• The people on board claim that they are from N. Korea. They are suspected to be N. Korean refugees. Some information also says that they are asking for 'political asylum.'
• The boat is 7~8 meter long, and made of wood, has no roof, but its own engine. It was carrying fuel and food, but no weapons.
• Those on board appear to be in good health. One of the men was wearing jumpers and dirty pants, with tanned skin.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[TigerLikesRooster]

The location of Fukaura(marked with a red star)

[kinoxi]

Hair of the dog might help them talk.

[bill1952]

What is the particular impact of this event?

I mean, an open wooden boat lands with a family wanting asylum from NK.

This is unusual?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

Defection by boat is rare, especially over such a long distance from N. Korea.

Kim is losing control of population and his people are getting more desperate.

[bill1952]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

That is quite a distance in an open boat.

[Int]

They weren’t drunk, were they? :-/

[SevenofNine]

Maybe they went for beer run ROFL

[monkapotamus]

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for pinging me.

[SevenofNine]

That so sweet of Looter guy

One beer at a time or case at a time