North Koreans Forced Into Decade-Long Labor on Chinese Fishing Vessels, Report Finds

A new report reveals violations of UN sanctions, with North Korean workers enduring abuse and forced labor on Chinese-flagged ships in the Indian Ocean.

• The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) report documents forced labor of North Koreans on 12 Chinese tuna longliners between 2019 and 2024.
• Workers were reportedly trapped at sea for up to 10 years, denied communication with family, and subjected to harsh conditions and abuse.
• The use of North Korean labor violates a 2017 UN Security Council resolution prohibiting member states from employing North Korean workers to curb funding for Pyongyang's weapons programs.
• The report alleges that fish caught by this illegal labor force may have entered global seafood markets, including the EU, UK, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
• China and Russia are accused of circumventing UN sanctions, with Beijing denying specific knowledge of the case but reiterating adherence to international law.

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