The results of 13-hour autopsies performed Friday on two crew members of an unidentified ship that sank Dec. 22 after exchanging fire with Japanese patrol boats indicate they probably drowned, officials of the Japan Coast Guard said Saturday.
The coast guard had commissioned doctors to conduct the autopsies at Kagoshima University.
The autopsies were performed five days after the bodies were recovered as the coast guard had been discussing legal procedures with prosecutors.
The coast guard decided to commission the autopsies, which in Japan are usually conducted on crime victims, but as the nationality of the deceased and their status remain unknown, they have been proceeding with caution.
It is believed that the crew of the vessel, which Japan believes was a North Korean spy ship, deliberately sank their ship during the shootout in the East China Sea. to conceal their identities.
Japanese officials have been searching for the remaining bodies and belongings of the crew. So far, 200 items, including cigarettes bearing Korean characters, blue metal drums and fishing gear, have been recovered.
Some of the items have been sent to Kagoshima, where investigators are examining them to see whether they may offer more clues on the incident, the officials said.