## Japanese Government Investigating Authenticity of Drone Footage of Izumo Destroyer
The Japanese government is investigating the authenticity of a video circulating on social media that appears to show drone footage of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo destroyer. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated on April 2nd that the video may be a "fake" and is currently being analyzed for potential malicious intent.
The video, approximately 20 seconds long, shows the Izumo from above. The camera approaches the ship from the rear and moves over the deck while the vessel is docked at Yokosuka Naval Base. The logo of the Chinese video-sharing website "bilibili" is visible in the upper left corner.
Flying drones over defense-related facilities, including Yokosuka base, is prohibited without permission. Kihara declined to discuss specific surveillance measures, citing concerns about revealing base security capabilities. He did confirm that the government regularly monitors drones and other flights.
The incident highlights growing concerns about the potential use of drones for surveillance and other malicious activities. The Japanese government is taking the video seriously and is working to determine its authenticity and origin.