A North Korean fishing boat captain was handed a suspended prison sentence by a Japanese court Tuesday for stealing items including electronic appliances after being rescued from his stranded vessel last year. The 45-year-old was among 10 North Koreans spotted aboard a tiny wooden boat struggling in bad
A North Korean fishing boat captain was handed a suspended prison sentence by a Japanese court Tuesday for stealing items including electronic appliances after being rescued from his stranded vessel last year.
The 45-year-old was among 10 North Koreans spotted aboard a tiny wooden boat struggling in bad weather off the northern island of Hokkaido in late November.
They were rescued from the vessel, and some crew members were subsequently arrested over the theft of items ranging from home appliances to solar panels.
Some of them admitted taking items from a local fishery cooperatives facility on the remote island where they took refuge.
The captain was arrested and indicted last year for taking the lead in stealing some 40 items worth 5.65 million yen, local media reported.
