North Korean markings have been found on an AK-47 assault rifle retrieved from a suspected spy ship that sunk in the East China Sea after exchanging fire with a Japan Coast Guard (JCG) vessel, it has been learned.
The finding follows discoveries of a bag of sweets from the North Korean city of Pyongyang and cigarettes that only high-ranking Pyongyang officials could afford to buy, and is further evidence that the sunken ship originated from North Korea, investigative officials said. Officials said the weapon was retrieved during underwater salvaging work on the rogue vessel on May 5. They said it was possible it was one of the weapons that crewmembers had used to fire shots at the JCG patrol boat. The rifle was an AK-47 model -- a weapon developed in the former Soviet Union, but produced under license in such countries as China and North Korea. AK-47 rifles produced in North Korea are also used in countries including Iran, Iraq and Peru, and are reportedly available on the black market in other countries. Although the rifle found on the suspected spy ship was badly corroded, officials were reportedly able to detect a mark on it -- a star within a circle -- indicating that it was produced in North Korea. The gun battle between the ship and the JCG vessel erupted inside China's exclusive economic zone on the night of Dec. 22 last year after the unidentified ship was sandwiched by JCG ships that had chased it from Japanese territorial waters. Coast guard officials said at least two men suddenly opened fire at the surrounding patrol ships with automatic weapons. A rocket was then fired from the suspicious ship, but did not hit the JCG vessels. After the fierce gun battle, the suspected spy ship mysteriously sunk. The JCG suspects that the ship's crew may have blown up the vesssel. Two JCG officers were injured in the gun battle. Japan decided to salvage the ship in May after obtaining permission from the Chinese government because the area is located inside China's exclusive economic zone. (Mainichi Shimbun, June 27, 2002) |
