05/10/2023
Fishing is a dangerous occupation worldwide; for example, the work-related fatality rate for Australian fisherman in one study was 143 per 100,000 man-years, which was 18 times the Australian national average work-related fatality rate.[5] During the winter, North Korean fishing boats go out searching for king crab, squid and sandfish.[6] Some of the boats appear to be either operated by soldiers or rented by the army to civilians.[7][8] Fish is one of the main exports from North Korea to China.[9] Wreckage from North Korean boats often washes ashore in northern Japan during winter due to seasonal winds.[10]
The ghost ships washing up without living crewmen typically are old, lack powerful modern engines, and have no GPS. A lack of food may play a role in crew death; with little food on board, exposure and starvation can become significant dangers. Scholars such as John Nilsson-Wright of Chatham House find it unlikely that the boats resulted from attempts to defect; given that South Korea has closer cultural and linguistic ties, and is closer to North Korea by boat than Japan is, defection via Japan rather than South Korea by boat is uncommon.[6] There are a few, rare, precedents for defectors ending up near Japan. In 1987, eleven defectors drifted from North Korea to west Japan. In 2006, four defectors floated to northern Japan.[11] In September 2011, nine defectors accidentally made a five-day voyage to Japanese waters in a small boat while attempting to travel to South Korea.[12]
An analyst quoted by the South China Morning Post stated that it is unlikely vessels are being used to infiltrate North Korean agents into Japan, as it would be easier for them to just use fake passports and put the agents aboard a flight or a ferry ship to Japan.[12]
