Mysterious metal ball removed from Japanese beach
A mysterious large metal sphere that washed up on a beach in Japan has been removed, reports local media.
The iron ball was discovered on on Enshu Beach in Hamamatsu City on Tuesday and triggered an investigation into whether it was a bomb or mine. Authorities restricted access to a 200-metre radius on the beach.
Now local officials have ordered it to be taken away, the BBC reports.
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The large sphere that washed up on a beach in Japan has been taken away by authorities, local media reports.. Nine
Authorities said that it will be stored "for a certain period of time" before it is "disposed of".
Equally perplexing for the Japanese public has been the lack of comment about the origins of the sphere from the government and local officials.
While they've determined it is hollow and not a threat, they haven't said exactly what it actually is.
Some Hamamatsu residents have called it "Godzilla egg," "mooring buoy," and a thing "from outer space".
"I think everyone in Hamamatsu City was worried and curious about what it was about, but I'm relieved that the work is over," a local official told Japanese media.
While debate over what the sphere is continues on social media, some experts said it was immediately obvious.
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The large sphere was discovered as Japan raised concerns about Chinese surveillance balloons, such as this one downed over US waters, with China. Nine
Mark Inall, an oceanographer at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, told the BBC on Thursday it was a buoy used to keep scientific instruments afloat.
He said they regularly go missing after breaking free from their anchors. The devices can float for decades and lose all identifying features.
The discovery of the metal ball came amid heightened tensions in Japan after North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into Japan's territorial waters last Saturday. Then on Monday, two North Korean ballistic missiles were fired into the Sea of Japan.
The issue of Chinese spy balloons has also been concerning for the Japanese government.
On Wednesday, officials from Japan and China held security talks where Chinese surveillance balloons were discussed.
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