Mystery as boats filled with dead bodies of NORTH KOREAN fishermen found off Japan
BOATS filled with decaying bodies of those believed to be North Korean fishermen have been found drifting off the coast of Japan.
Japanese officials inspect a boat after it was found in the waters
The rotting and lifeless bodies of 25 people were found on board 11 rickety vessels, which have either washed ashore or been retrieved by coastguards over the past two months.
Experts are now desperately trying to determine where the boats came from as some point the finger to secretive North Korea.
Part of a North Korean flag and the words 'Korean People's Army' was reported to have been found on board one of the vessels.
Fishing equipment was also recovered, sparking theories that the boat may have belonged to North Korean fishermen or people looking to escape the communist state.
Some have suggested the bodies belonged to those who may have been fleeing North Korea
Part of a North Korean flag was reported to have been found on one of the vessels
It is feared the bodies may have been drifting in the sea for MONTHS without anyone knowing, leaving some of the remains in skeletal condition.
One suggestion is that the fishermen may have perished after experiencing bad weather.
None of the bodies have been formally identified.
The boats were found off the shore of Japan
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Coastguard spokesman Yoshiaki Hiroto said: "We are carrying out an investigation into these vessels and where they come from, although reports that Hangul characters were on the boats are correct."
The last boat to be pulled ashore, containing the bodies of three people, was found near Fukui port on Tuesday.
The bizarre discoveries echoed a similar incident in 2012 when five decomposing bodies were found aboard a stray boat in the waters of Japan.