Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers after getting off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea.

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a helicopter taking off from the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Hida, in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The helicopter was carrying nine probable defectors from North Korea-- six adults and three children -- found earlier in the day on a wooden boat. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea.

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers after getting off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea.

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a wooden boat bearing Korean characters on its side in the Sea of Japan off Ishikawa Prefecture on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found the boat carrying nine probable defectors from North Korea -- six adults and three children -- earlier in the day. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea.

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers as they get off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea.

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers after getting off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea. (Kyodo)

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers after getting off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea. (Kyodo)

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows nine probable defectors from North Korea being escorted by officers as they get off a helicopter aboard the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Echigo in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found a wooden boat carrying the nine -- six adults and three children -- and took them to Kanazawa port. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea. (Kyodo)

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a wooden boat bearing Korean characters on its side in the Sea of Japan off Ishikawa Prefecture on Sept. 13, 2011. The coast guard found the boat carrying nine probable defectors from North Korea -- six adults and three children -- earlier in the day. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea. (Kyodo)

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

Probable N. Korea defectors in Japan

TOYAMA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a helicopter taking off from the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Hida, in the Sea of Japan off Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sept. 13, 2011. The helicopter was carrying nine probable defectors from North Korea-- six adults and three children -- found earlier in the day on a wooden boat. A man among them told the coast guard that they are relatives and they left a North Korean port on Sept. 8 in the hope of going to South Korea. (Kyodo)