Tokyo (CNN)At least four ships have washed up on Japan's west coast this month, some with bodies on board, and while authorities haven't confirmed their origin, signs suggest they're from North Korea.
Eight skeletons were found in the hull of one wooden boat that washed ashore on Miyazawa beach in the northwest of Japan's main island Honshu, the Akita Coast Guard said Monday.
The unidentified boat was spotted drifting off shore on Friday but the grim discovery was only made when it reached land.
While officials would not confirm the boat was from North Korea, it matches a spate of vessels and debris that have ended up on Japan's west coast.
Strange boats ashore
November 15: Three North Koreans rescued by the Japanese coast guard off Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture. Three dead bodies found on the boat the following day. All bodies and survivors returned to North Korea. November 17: Four dead bodies discovered on board another boat which washed ashore in the same area. November 23: Eight North Koreans rescued after boat washed up on shores of Akita prefecture. November 27: Eight skeletons found aboard vessel found on Akita prefecture beach.