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The bodies had been drifting in the Sea of Japan for so long that only bones remained.

But investigators in face masks and coveralls found clues inside the battered wooden craft that pointed to a possible origin: an empty cigarette pack of a brand popular in North Korea and unused life jackets with Korean lettering.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A 'ghost ship' with skeletons aboard washed ashore in Japan — and clues point to North Korea Back to video

It’s unclear how long those who were aboard the latest “ghost ship” to wash up on the coast of Japan had been there or when they died. Ocean currents off the coast of Japan shift and the waters get choppy in winter months, routinely washing ships ashore. More than 40 boats full of dead people have washed up this year, according to Sky News. In 2016, the number was 66.

The 23-foot boat was found in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, according to Kyodo News, after a 68-year-old woman notified authorities about a dilapidated, drifting vessel.

“I was surprised to see the boat in such a bad condition,” she told the news organization.