What a captured North Korean spy vessel reveals in person

Do you expect to discover anything new when visiting naval exhibits in person?

It is hard to predict: inspecting the North Korean spy vessel revealed unexpected scale, engine-room damage, and a lack of subdivision that photographs had not conveyed.

Clarke's visit to the Japan Coast Guard's recovered North Korean spy vessel overturned impressions formed from photographs and books. The converted fishing-vessel hull felt both tighter and more spacious than expected, and the scale of its heavy diesel engines became clearer. After walking around the display three times, he interpreted the concentration of shell holes beside the machinery spaces as evidence of deliberate Japanese fire into the engines. His inspection also revealed a lack of subdivision and features he judged contrary to sound naval architecture. The vessel illustrates how examining a hull in person can change an understanding of its arrangement and battle damage.