On Thursday, Japanese authorities found eight unidentified men “standing around at the seaside in Yurihonjo town,” reports CBS News. “Police also found a wooden boat reportedly carrying squid at a nearby marina” with the word “Chongjin” printed on it. Chongjin is a city in North Korea.
The men, according to officials, claim that their boat malfunctioned while fishing in the Sea of Japan. Kyodo News Plus reports that the men are unharmed and healthy, and have been taken into “protective custody.” The eight fisherman have allegedly asked to be taken back to their home.
During a press conference, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: “The authorities are investigating and collecting information now.”
This seemingly unusual situation isn’t actually out of the ordinary as Bloomberg notes that in 2017 alone, 43 “wooden boats” have washed up on Japanese shores.