Japanese coastguard authorities rescued three North Korean men from a capsized boat in the East Sea on Wednesday, while 12 other crew members remain missing.
 
The wooden vessel had been spotted at around 1:45 p.m. about 360 kilometers north of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture and was rescued two hours later.
 
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Thursday confirmed that the three men that were rescued had identified themselves as North Korean.
 
As the men expressed desire to return to their country, Suga said Tokyo is talking with Pyongyang about sending them back, adding that efforts are being made to find the 12 missing crewmen.

[Photo : ]