Posted on 11/09/2004 8:13:22 PM PST by Dr. Marten
Unidentified Submarine Spotted Off Japan
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Nov 9, 10:52 PM (ET)
BY MARI YAMAGUCHI
TOKYO (AP) - Japan's navy forces went on alert early Wednesday after a foreign submarine was briefly spotted in its territorial waters, the government's top spokesman said.
The sub's country of origin and other details could not immediately be determined.
A reconnaissance aircraft and destroyer were dispatched to investigate, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said.
The aircraft confirmed the submarine had entered Japanese territorial waters near the Sakishima islands in southern Okinawa prefecture but that it later left, he said.
Defense chief Yoshinori Ono issued an alert order to the navy, Hosoda said without elaborating.
"It's extremely regrettable," Hosoda said. "We have to find out and examine the details, including its purpose and origin."
Japan has been considering ways to boost its maritime defenses after a shoot out with a suspected North Korean spy ship in December 2001.
In that incident, Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats sank the suspected spy ship in a gunbattle off southwestern Japan. The patrol vessels returned fire only after the ship, ordered to stop, opened fire with a rocket and guns.
The Sakishima islands lie in waters between the northeastern tip of Taiwan and Okinawa's main island - some 1,000 miles south of Tokyo.
Anyone know what kind of subs NK has in its fleet?
Already posted.
The earlier post was a translation with fewer details.
I thought they were all subs...put them in the water and they'll sink.
Blow it out of the water! Screw Red China and North Korea. Sink it!!!
Didn't India just build a sub or two, also?
Most likely Russian "Kilo" class. They are sold to the ChiComs and the NK's. Diesel and very quiet (most diesel's are. They just lack the range of nukes).
NK uses Coastal Patrol subs. Two were sold to Vietnam a few years ago.
They could be Canadian. On second thought, they are at the in Halifax dry dock, getting new baking soda and vinegar. Both of them.
LOL!!!
Damn bear subs made more noise than a 3 horse Evenrude. And leaked like sives
...and pulled an Exxon Valdez
They arn't Mexican, because Adobe melts when it get wet.
Japan must repeal Article 9 of its Constitution.
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