“Ghost ships” washing ashore along Japan coasts creating new crisis in the country

NewsBharati    14-Dec-2017
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Tokyo, December 14: Amid tension due to North Korean missile tests, Japan is facing another kind of threat in coastal security. In 2017, a record number of “ghost ships” or suspected North Korean boats have washed ashore along the Sea of Japan coast. Due to this problem, Japanese Government is boosting patrols and other measures to respond to the new crisis.

As per Japanese Coast Guard’s information, 83 wooden vessels likely from North Korea have washed ashore in northern Japan so far this year. The number has already crossed the previous highest number recorded in 2013, 80. The number has increased considerably since November. Within less than two months, 52 boats among those 50 have turned up. Japan government suspects the vessels are North Korean boats which were doing illegal activities inside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made a response team under Fumio Kishida, head of policy research for the Liberal Democratic Party, ruling party in Japan cabinet. The PM has also vowed that the government will do whatever is necessary to address the issue.

The local residents are becoming scared while local governments are being more burdened. Moreover, during winter Sea of Japan faces rough weather. Hence, patrol ships may not be enough to stop those illegal vessels. "We want to responsibly deal with the actual costs in close coordination with localities," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Japan Sea of Japan North Korea Shinzo Abe Japan Coast Guard LDP Ghost Ship Illegal Fishing