Japan on alert as boats thought to be from North Korea found
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TOKYO - Japan is stepping up patrols and urging local authorities and fishermen to be on the alert after several boats thought to be from North Korea, some carrying dead bodies, were found on its northern coast.
"The coast guard and police have to cooperate to step up sea patrols around Japan," the chief government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said Tuesday when asked about reports that a boat carrying eight dead bodies was found on the coast of Akita prefecture, which faces North Korea across the Sea of Japan.
"The government intends to improve this to ensure we can guard against suspicious boats or people arriving in Japan," Suga said.
