20 N. Korean crewmen thrown to sea in boat collision off Japan coast

TOKYO — The Japan Coast Guard was trying to rescue 20 North Korean fishermen, who were thrown to sea after their boat collided with a Japanese fisheries patrol boat on Monday morning.

The Japan Coast Guard said its aircraft and patrol boats were joining the search and rescue operations by the Japanese fisheries agency boat Okuni after it collided with the North Korean boat off a northern Japanese coast.

The Fisheries Agency said the collision occurred in the area known as Yamatotai, off Japan’s northern coast of the Noto Peninsula known as rich ground for squid fishing.

The agency also said the Japanese patrol ship had no damage and the condition of the other boat was being assessed.

Japan has stepped up patrols in the area as North Korean squid poaching has surged.

Experts say the increase is due to Pyongyang’s campaign to boost fish harvests.

Japan’s coast guard in June pushed more than 300 North Korean boats back from the same waters. Japan also said an armed North Korean fishing boat “threatened” a Japanese patrol ship in August. /kga