We probably like shipwreck for the same reason the medium leaps on to any whiff of a story aboutsupervolcanoes : because they sound mystic and often pull up stakes way for more puckish editorial peons to speculate furiously about what ’s move on . As a new wreck tale is somewhat reminding us all , though , it ’s often best not to believe the plug .

Reports suggest that a Russian war vessel – one that pass 113 year ago – has been found offshore from Ulleungdo , an easterly South Korean island , by a salvage fellowship . It ’s been suggested that it ’s bear a Brobdingnagian amount of Au , so naturally there ’s a turn of a battle on everyone ’s hands as they sample to work out who “ possess ” the wreck .

The company that found the combat ship , the Seoul - based , fresh establishedShinil Group , have secrete video recording and imagery take by their search bomber , which appear to show a wreck with a Russian insignia .

It ’s take to be the ample , heavily armoured cruiser , the Dmitrii Donskoi , whichABC Newsnotes sunk during the 1904 - 5 Russo - Japanese war . Not only that , but the atomic number 79 the team suspect may be inside has been meditate to be worth $ 130 - 180 billion .

At this full point , nothing has been independently verified . Even if it turn out to be the disoriented combat ship , it does n’t needs mean it ’s pack with atomic number 79 . When you think about it , whenever such grandiose claims are made , they are seldom verify , even if the shipwreck is what ’s been reported at the meter – so for now , do n’t adjudge your breath . disbelief is recommended until proved otherwise .

Indeed , Reutersreported yesterday that the find has already been met with disbelief from experts , and controversy from the government activity of South Korea , who told local media that the wreck had already been discover back in 2003 . Another company – bizarrely , a construction electric receptacle – has alsodeclaredthat they found the wreck in 2001 , but failed to lift it from the seafloor .

Already , people have spotted photo of the crash taken by the United States Department of State - play Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology go out back to 2007 . Even stranger still , it seem that there is more than one Shinil Group , with the second linking the discovery to a cryptocurrency exchange .

Something clearly seems suspect , which is why all centre will be on the squad that just “ find out ” the wreck as they show promised grounds to the worldin the come in days . If the shipwreck is indeed validated in some style or another , then word will take place over who can legally lay call to it .

Already , Russian expert are calling shotgun , mention external maritime natural law , while alsodismissingthe notion that there ’s any gold on board . Why , they say , would so much atomic number 79 be put at risk on a single ship during a prison term of conflict ?

Watch this space .