Now new evidence from the sunken ship is bubbling to the surface, leading some to suspect Pyongyang might have been hiding something. A recent underwater reconnaissance mission to the wreck by the Japanese Coast Guard has revealed that the ship was heavily armed with surface-to-air missiles, antiaircraft guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. The discovery has infuriated Pyongyang, which has been accusing Tokyo of fabricating a “conspiracy” story. (North Korea still denies ownership of the boat.) A salvage operation, which won’t be completed for at least another month, may give some clues as to whether–and if so, why–the boat was so heavily laden with weaponry. In the meantime, Japanese experts have been left totally baffled by the findings. Most believe that the ship was carrying spies. But that doesn’t make any sense either, according to one well-regarded Japanese arms expert. “It’s far beyond any common sense for a spy ship to carry such weapons these days,” he explains. “It is outdated and just like a spy novel.” Maybe that’s the answer. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is widely believed to be a huge fan of James Bond movies. Perhaps he was just living out his celluloid fantasies?
