Japanese Patrol Boat Approaches Dokdo Excursion Boat

A Japanese patrol boat of Maritime Security Agency of Japan was spotted from the Sambong-ho (cruiser) running from Ulleung Island to Dokdo in the East Sea.

On April 1, the Donghae (East Sea) Coast Guard and Ulleung Police said that around 9:00 a.m., a Japanese patrol boat (of about 1000 tons) of the Maritime Security Agency came 23km off Dokdo to the west.

The patrol boat and the Sambong-ho sailed one kilometer apart in the same direction for several minutes, but the Japanese boat withdrew soon after a warship of Korea Coast Guard approached it.

Kwon-Hyo Lee boriam@donga.com