World Briefing | Asia: Japan: Joint Forces To Fight Spies

Published: July 23, 2002

The police and military have worked out contingency plans to join forces to tackle incursions by ''armed spies'' after a suspected North Korean spy ship intruded into Japanese waters last December and exchanged fire with the Japanese Coast Guard. ''This is the first time that Japan's police and Self Defense Forces will hold joint drills to ensure public peace and security,'' a police official said of the plan, which is controversial in reviving memories of the time when military police were used to crack down on antigovernment activities during World War II.