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Japan may attempt salvage of mystery ship to determine nationality: officials

Japan will try to raise a suspected spy ship that sank after trading shots with the Coast Guard Dec. 22, officials said Dec. 25.

The Dec. 22 clash began when the unidentified ship ignored orders to stop for inspection in Japan's southern waters and fled toward China. It ended six hours later, when the boat sank in the East China Sea following a shootout with Coast Guard patrol boats.

Officials have said the crew of the mystery ship may have blown a hole in the ship to avoid capture. A Coast Guard sailor said he saw a bright flash aboard the boat about two minutes before it sank.

Two bodies from its estimated 15 crew members have been recovered. Three Japanese sailors were slightly injured in the firefight.

There was growing suspicion that the ship was North Korean even though Japanese officials have not commented on its identity

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency responded to the allegations Dec. 26, calling them a "smear campaign launched by the Japanese authorities linking (North Korea) for no reason."

One of the recovered bodies was wearing a life jacket with a Korean label, while an empty candy bag with Korean writing was found in the other's pocket.

Officials said the crew of the ship apparently fired Soviet-era shoulder-held rockets — typical of North Korea's arsenal — at the patrol boats.

Officials and analysts also say the vessel closely resembled two suspected North Korean spy ships detected off the western coast of Japan in March 1999

Shukan ST: Jan. 4, 2002

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News Japan may attempt salvage of mystery ship to determine nationality: officials Japan will try to raise a suspected spy ship that sank after trading shots with the Coast Guard Dec. 22, officials said Dec. 25. The Dec. 22 clash began when the unidentified ship ignored orders to stop for inspection in Japan's southern waters and fled toward China. It ended six hours later, when the boat sank in the East China Sea following a shootout with Coast Guard patrol boats. Officials have said the crew of the mystery ship may have blown a hole in the ship to avoid capture. A Coast Guard sailor said he saw a bright flash aboard the boat about two minutes before it sank. Two bodies from its estimated 15 crew members have been recovered. Three Japanese sailors were slightly injured in the firefight. There was growing suspicion that the ship was North Korean even though Japanese officials have not commented on its identity North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency responded to the allegations Dec. 26, calling them a "smear campaign launched by the Japanese authorities linking (North Korea) for no reason." One of the recovered bodies was wearing a life jacket with a Korean label, while an empty candy bag with Korean writing was found in the other's pocket. Officials said the crew of the ship apparently fired Soviet-era shoulder-held rockets — typical of North Korea's arsenal — at the patrol boats. Officials and analysts also say the vessel closely resembled two suspected North Korean spy ships detected off the western coast of Japan in March 1999 Shukan ST: Jan. 4, 2002 (C) All rights reserved