The captai­n took the lead in steali­ng some 40 items rangin­g from home applia­nces to solar panels­TOKYO: Japanese prosecutors reportedly charged a North Korean fishing boat captain for theft on Thursday, accusing him of making off with items ranging from home appliances to solar panels. The 45-year-old was among 10 North Korean “fishermen” spotted aboard a tiny wooden boat struggling in bad weather off the northern island of Hokkaido in late November. The captain and two other crew members, who all identified themselves as North Korean nationals, were arrested earlier this month on suspicion of stealing a power generator on the small island. Dozens of North Korean fishing vessels wash up on Japan’s coast every year, but Japanese coastguards registered 28 cases last month, the highest figure since records began in 2014. Experts say some North Korean fishermen are travelling far out to sea to satisfy government mandates for bigger catches.

Source: The Express Tribune December 28, 2017 09:11 UTC