According to an interview with a person concerned, a ship of the North Korean authorities was equipped with a portable anti-aircraft missile at one of Japan's leading fishing grounds called "Yamatotai" off the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.


The Japan Coast Guard is responding by raising the alert level to ensure the safety of Japanese fishing vessels operating in the field waters.

"Yamatotai", which spreads over Japan's exclusive economic zone off the Noto Peninsula, has been fishing for squid for many years as one of Japan's leading fishing grounds. Illegal operation by Japan is a problem.



According to people familiar with the matter, it has been confirmed that North Korean fishing boats have not appeared around Yamatotai even during the squid fishing season after June, while North Korean authorities' boats are often sailing. It means that it is.



At the end of June, it was discovered that the Japan Coast Guard had confirmed that one North Korean ship was equipped with a portable anti-aircraft missile.



According to people familiar with the matter, the missile is the same type as the "SA-16" developed by the former Soviet Union and has a range of 4.5 km.

It was equipped with a Japan Coast Guard patrol boat and a North Korean craft ship that sank after a gun battle in the East China Sea off Amami Oshima in 2001, but it was equipped by a North Korean ship in the waters around Yamatotai. It is the first time that it has been confirmed to be present.



The Japan Coast Guard continues to raise the level of caution to ensure the safety of Japanese fishing boats operating around Yamatotai, constantly deploying patrol boats for suspicious boats, and analyzing the aims of North Korea. doing.

Illegal operation of foreign fishing boats becomes more serious and threatened by safety

Illegal operations of foreign fishing vessels such as North Korea have become serious around Yamatotai for five years, and along with this, ships believed to be North Korean authorities have been confirmed one after another, threatening the safety of Japanese fishing vessels and patrol vessels. I am.



In the sea area of ​​the site, the Fisheries Agency's patrol boat and the Japan Coast Guard's patrol boat are on alert, and they are taking measures such as discharging water to evict foreign fishing boats from Japan's exclusive economic waters, but in July four years ago, The Fisheries Agency's patrol boat was tracked by a ship believed to be the North Korean authorities possessing weapons such as rifles.

In addition, in August, a total of two high-speed boats were confirmed, one was a cargo ship with the North Korean flag and the other was a high-speed boat with a flag like the North Korean navy. Approached the Maritime Security Agency's patrol boat to a distance of about 30 meters, and one crew member pointed a small gun at him and threatened him.



Last year, while many Chinese fishing vessels were confirmed in the surrounding waters, few North Korean fishing vessels were seen, but the government said in September that North Korean authorities' vessels were confirmed to be sailing. We are making an offer to the North Korean side.



In addition, according to the people concerned, it has been confirmed several times that the Fisheries Agency's patrol ship was pointed at the rifle.

Affects the operation of Japanese fishing vessels

The movement of ships by North Korean authorities is affecting the operation of Japanese fishing vessels around Yamatotai.



Last September, the Fisheries Agency requested Japanese fishing vessels to move from a certain area because they confirmed the vessels of the North Korean authorities around Yamatotai, and the request was gradually lifted. Was about a month later.



The Fisheries Agency has provided Japanese fishermen with information on the sea areas that can be safely operated around Yamatotai, and according to the people concerned, in addition to the rapidly increasing situation of Chinese fishing vessels, the movement of the vessels of the North Korean authorities It means that we are sending information.

On the other hand, the Japan Coast Guard is also faced with a difficult response.



According to the people concerned, patrol boats have been keeping a certain distance and guarding the ships of the North Korean authorities on the premise that they are equipped with weapons such as rifles.



However, after the anti-aircraft missile was confirmed, it is necessary to avoid the expected range, so it is necessary to take measures at a greater distance.



On the other hand, if a North Korean official's vessel approaches a fishing vessel, the policy is to deploy a patrol vessel near the fishing vessel regardless of the distance to ensure safety.



The Japan Coast Guard is increasing the number of personnel and patrol boats while the China Coast Guard ships are activating activities around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa, but the Japan Coast Guard officials said, "The area around Yamatotai is better. Unforeseen circumstances may occur, "he said, and the environment surrounding Japan's waterfront is becoming more severe.

Exclusive economic zone Each country also insists on complicating the situation

Around Yamatotai, not only Japan but also other countries facing the Sea of ​​Japan insist on an exclusive economic zone, and there are sea areas that overlap with Japan, complicating the situation.



Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, each country can set an exclusive economic zone that can manage fishery resources within a range of 200 nautical miles from the coast.



However, if the distance between countries across the sea is less than 400 nautical miles, it is necessary to set boundaries between countries for overlapping sea areas.



Even so, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is no sea area defined by the exclusive economic zone on the Sea of ​​Japan side, as the claims differ from country to country.

According to officials of the Japan Coast Guard, although the exact claim of North Korea without diplomatic relations is unknown, ships of the North Korean authorities have been tracking and pointing guns at the Fisheries Agency's patrol boats and the Japan Coast Guard's patrol boats. The waters appear to be claiming jurisdiction over their own country.



In addition, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea states that a council on maritime jurisdiction was held in August this year.



The purpose of the talks was stated as "to counter the increasing illegal invasion of Japan's economic zones by Japan in recent years," and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan protested through the embassy route in Beijing, China.



Around Yamatotai, Japan and North Korea, as well as Russia and South Korea, are claiming an exclusive economic zone, and a foreign ministry official said, "I can't answer" as to whether negotiations are underway for an agreement. It is said.



An official of the Japan Coast Guard said, "Unless the sea area is determined, the problem of illegal operations will not be settled."