North Korean workers sent to Chinese distant-water fishing vessels as part of the regime’s foreign currency-earning scheme are reportedly subjected to harsh, exploitative conditions akin to forced labor, according to new testimonies.
The London-based environmental organization Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) released a report on February 23 detailing the conditions aboard Chinese tuna fishing vessels. The report was based on interviews with 19 Indonesian and Filipino crew members who worked alongside North Korean fishermen.
According to the testimonies, Chinese deep-sea fishing vessels operating near Somalia, Mauritius, and Australia regularly dock at ports, but North Korean fishermen never set foot on land. Instead, they are transferred to other vessels at sea to avoid detection.
The report suggests that Chinese fishing companies fear legal repercussions if immigration authorities at port locations discover the presence of North Korean workers on board.
In December 2022, authorities in Mauritius arrested a Chinese fishing vessel captain along with six North Korean crew members, highlighting the risks associated with employing North Korean laborers.
Violation of UN Sanctions and Severe Isolation of North Korean Workers
In 2017, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution mandating the repatriation of all North Korean workers from foreign assignments by the end of 2019 as part of sanctions aimed at curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
However, North Korean fishermen on these vessels are effectively cut off from the outside world, unable to go ashore or even communicate with their families due to a strict ban on mobile phone usage.
One Indonesian fisherman who worked with six North Korean crew members from late 2022 to mid-2023 recounted, One North Korean worker told me he had not been able to contact his wife for seven years. Another testimony detailed a North Korean fisherman who had been at sea for eight years without setting foot on land.
Wages Sent Directly to North Korea, Fishermen Given Only Small Allowances
While Indonesian crew members reportedly received around $330 per month, North Korean fishermen’s wages were sent directly to the North Korean government. Some vessels allowed them to keep only $50 per month as a stipend.
Communication between workers aboard the vessels was limited to hand gestures and basic Chinese phrases. One Indonesian crew member recalled North Korean fishermen shouting Korean words that meant “hurry up” to rush their colleagues.
Despite working under grueling conditions with only five to six hours of sleep per day, North Korean fishermen were described as the most experienced and highly skilled workers on the vessels. EJF reported that some North Korean crew members remain on these fishing boats for up to 10 years.
Political Indoctrination at Sea and Evidence of Forced Labor
Even under exploitative conditions, political surveillance among North Korean workers appeared to be prevalent. According to the report, crew members would watch video speeches of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and sing patriotic songs while standing at attention before a hoisted North Korean flag.
EJF concluded that the treatment of North Korean workers aboard these vessels meets the criteria for forced labor under international law.
Steve Trent, CEO of EJF, stated, “Illegal fishing and human rights abuses can be found almost without exception on board China’s distant-water vessels. However, the use of North Korean forced labor for such long periods is a particularly severe example of the egregious misconduct uncovered by EJF.”
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
