Chinese fishing industry exploits North Korean workers amid UN violations

In the southwest Indian Ocean, from 2019 to 2024, Chinese fishing vessels reportedly employed North Korean crews in violation of United Nations sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's human rights abuses and nuclear weapons program. According to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation, these workers were subjected to extreme conditions, often forced to labor at sea for up to ten years without ever setting foot on land. This practice contravenes the 2017 UN Security Council resolution, which mandated that member states not issue work permits to North Koreans and repatriate existing workers by the end of 2019. The issue was brought to public attention primarily through interviews with non-North Korean crew members from Indonesia and the Philippines, who detailed how concerted efforts were made to hide the presence of North Koreans on Chinese tuna long-liners. The report emphasizes the broader context of human rights abuses prevalent in the fishing industry, noting that this situation surpasses much of the exploitation typically observed globally. By transferring North Korean workers between vessels, operators effectively prevented these individuals from returning home or accessing communication tools, thus allowing their exploitation to continue unimpeded. Despite UN resolutions, China's enforcement has been called into question, as the country is suspected of failing to impose strict sanctions on North Korea. This has enabled illegal labor practices to flourish, and the report highlights the complicity of Chinese fishing companies in these systemic abuses. The implications of employing North Korean crews extend beyond human rights violations, as the revenues generated from these operations may inadvertently support North Korea's nuclear ambitions, further destabilizing international relations and security in the region. The long-standing practice of utilizing North Korean labor abroad, particularly in industries like fishing, is part of a broader strategy by the North Korean government to secure foreign currency. Workers are generally monitored closely by security agents, work excessively long hours, and retain only a fraction of their wages. This predicament highlights the ongoing plight of North Korean workers and the ethical challenges faced by global supply chains interacting with countries that engage in such practices.