8 bodies found after boat believed to be from N Korea washes up in Japan

Anyone guessing that the trickle turns to a tide as things get tougher inside NK

Why bodies? If I send my children, at least they can swim or have a life jacket.

whathave we done to these staving people???

rest in peace

Horrible way to die. Soldiers with no seafaring skills are ordered out in unseaworthy boats to earn foreign currency for the regime. Still want to welcome their cheerleading team to the Olympics?

According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea sold some of its coastal fishing rights to Chinese fleets to raise revenue, so annual fish quotas have become harder to achieve. The state media often promote an image of an abundance of food resources, but evidence seems to contradict that.

What will happen to there bodies? will they be sent back to NK or will they be buried/cremated in Japan?

It would be nice if Japan had more ships out there to detect these boats before the tragedies happen.

You know, humanitarian activity, like sending money to Africa. Needle in a haystack it may be but there are more satellites up there than we will ever know

Brian,

They are cremated in Japan and their ashes are kept at shrines until North Korea claims them. Japan usually picks up the cost. A class act by Japan.

Sanctions are hurting poor people than their country. I think. Fishermen have no choice. Hope Japan can restart food donation program. Swimming skill does not help., @goodluck. I don't think Fisermen can afford life jacket even if. They are sold in their country.

Dying one by one of starvation or illness (or both) on a rickety old boat in the middle of the ocean. Not a nice way to go.

GoodlucktoyouToday 03:49 pm JST

Why bodies? If I send my children, at least they can swim or have a life jacket.

what have we done to these staving people???

WE haven't done anything. This is the result of JUCHE, the NK government increasing quotas on a poorly equipped fishing fleet. Worker's paradise and all that.

So what does Japan do with the people who survive the trip?

Jails some, deports others. It has been covered on this website every other week recently.

Why didn't they catch some fish to survive?

Their rotting bodies are a damning indictment of how far down Fat boy and his for-bearers have dragged their people. Not that he will care, the smell will never reach his pampered nose!

Laguna: Still want to welcome their cheerleading team to the Olympics?

Yes. Maybe it will give a few of them a chance to defect and get out of that hellhole country.

Gobshite: It would be nice if Japan had more ships out there to detect these boats before the tragedies happen.

It would be nice if people could learn from history and turn away from Socialism but to many it is more of a religion than an economic / political system of government.

I cannot speak to the skills of the crew, but the boat looks reasonably sound.

@Joe Duncan

So what does Japan do with the people who survive the trip?

Whatever they wish to do other than staying in Japan.

Want to seek asylum in the US, fine.

Want to go to the ROK, fine.

Want to go back to North Korea, fine.

Want to stay in Japan, hell no.

Sanctions are hurting poor people than their country. I think. Fishermen have no choice. Hope Japan can restart food donation program.

Because they weren't starving before the sanctions, right?

Food donations would be wasted as any aid sent to North Korea goes to the military first. The civilians still starve.