Boats with decaying bodies found drifting off Japan's coastline

Japanese officials are investigating after up to 11 boats were found drifting off the country's coastline, some of them with decaying bodies on board.

A coastguard spokesman says around 20 corpses were found on wooden boats between October and November.

Many of the boats have been towed to Japanese ports, but the bodies are yet to be identified.

Korean writing is reported to have been found on the vessels, leading some to suggest they came from North Korea.