Well before `evil axis' label, North Korean spies, drug-runners have worried Japan

Sun Apr 21,10:26 PM ET

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer

ABOARD THE PATROL BOAT AMAKAZE - Junior navigator Satoshi Nakamura checks a flickering green dot on the radar screen, then picks up his binoculars to get a better look at what's approaching.

This time, there is no trouble. The three rusty cargo ships flying the North Korean flag have permission to be in Japanese waters, and they quietly pass by his small, virtually unarmed patrol boat, eventually disappearing over the horizon.

Long before President Bush (news - web sites) singled out North Korea (news - web sites) as part of a terrorist "axis of evil," its ships and boats have been suspected of plying the waters around Japan on missions involving spying, drug running and fish poaching.

A trickle of legal maritime trade continues despite the lack of formal relations between Japan and North Korea, but a firefight in late December has racheted up tensions.

snip-

Read Complete Article Here