(2)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(2)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - Two salvage ships chartered by Japan are in East China Sea on June 26 ready to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001. A Coast Guard patrol vessel (top left) is seen on guard.

(4)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(4)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - The Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Amami is on guard against a Chinese fishing boat (fore) in East China Sea on June 26. The Amami is there to guard two salvage ships chartered by Japan to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001.

(3)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(3)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - The 498-to Shinyo Maru, one of the two salvage ships chartered by Japan, are in East China Sea on June 26 with a manned submersible on board. The ship is there with the 657-ton Shintatsu Maru, another salvage ship, to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001.

(1)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(1)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - Two salvage ships chartered by Japan to raise an unidentified ship which sank in East China Sea after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001 are at the scene of the wreckage June 26.

Cabinet convened to discuss unidentified ships

Cabinet convened to discuss unidentified ships

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (C) and other cabinet members, including Defense Agency Director General Hosei Norota (R), head to a cabinet meeting March 24 to discuss the intrusion into Japanese territorial waters of two unidentified ships in the Sea of Japan.

Japan attempting to intercept suspicious ships

Japan attempting to intercept suspicious ships

Transport Minister Jiro Kawasaki holds the photographs showing two unidentified ships spotted in Japanese territorial waters in the Sea of Japan on March 23. The Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) said MSA boats fired warning shots at the ships.

Cabinet convened to discuss unidentified ships

Cabinet convened to discuss unidentified ships

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (C) and other cabinet members, including Defense Agency Director General Hosei Norota (R), head to a cabinet meeting March 24 to discuss the intrusion into Japanese territorial waters of two unidentified ships in the Sea of Japan.

(1)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(1)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - Two salvage ships chartered by Japan to raise an unidentified ship which sank in East China Sea after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001 are at the scene of the wreckage June 26.

(2)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(2)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - Two salvage ships chartered by Japan are in East China Sea on June 26 ready to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001. A Coast Guard patrol vessel (top left) is seen on guard.

(4)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(4)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - The Japan Coast Guard patrol boat Amami is on guard against a Chinese fishing boat (fore) in East China Sea on June 26. The Amami is there to guard two salvage ships chartered by Japan to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001.

(3)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

(3)Salvage vessels in E. China Sea to raise 'spy' ship

NAHA, Japan - The 498-to Shinyo Maru, one of the two salvage ships chartered by Japan, are in East China Sea on June 26 with a manned submersible on board. The ship is there with the 657-ton Shintatsu Maru, another salvage ship, to raise an unidentified ship which sank after a shoot-out with the Japan Coast Guard in December 2001.

More photos of unidentified ships released

More photos of unidentified ships released

Crew members are seen aboard one of two unidentified ships detected within Japanese territorial waters in the Sea of Japan on March 24. The photo was taken by the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) at 7:12 a.m. Wednesday March 24. ==Kyodo

Japan attempting to intercept suspicious ships

Japan attempting to intercept suspicious ships

Transport Minister Jiro Kawasaki holds the photographs showing two unidentified ships spotted in Japanese territorial waters in the Sea of Japan on March 23. The Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) said MSA boats fired warning shots at the ships.

Photo of suspicious-looking ship released

Photo of suspicious-looking ship released

This photograph released by the Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) on March 23 shows one of two unidentified ships sailing in Japanese terrotorial waters off Noto Peninsular in Ishikawa Prefecture.