According to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), tens of thousands of North Korean workers have allegedly been forced to remain at sea for several years aboard Chinese fishing vessels. This dramatic situation involves multiple countries worldwide, including some in Europe.
North Koreans Forced to Work on Chinese-Flagged Fishing Vessels
An English NGO has accused that some North Koreans were compelled to work on Chinese-flagged fishing boats, with some having spent up to ten years at sea. The London-based EJF investigated the conditions of North Korean fishermen on these vessels and found evidence not only of forced labor but also of physical and verbal abuse.
North Korea, a nuclear-armed state, has long institutionalized the practice of sending its citizens to work abroad, particularly in neighboring countries like China and Russia. The regime then seizes up to 90% of the wages of its overseas workers, according to a 2023 U.S. State Department report.
Years Without Setting Foot on Land
To prevent these funds from financing Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic programs, a 2017 United Nations Security Council resolution—supported by China—mandates the expulsion of North Korean workers abroad.
However, experts accuse Beijing and Moscow of violating this resolution, with the U.S. State Department estimating in 2024 that between 20,000 and 100,000 North Koreans were still working in China, mainly in restaurants and factories.
The EJF gathered testimonies from a dozen Indonesian and Filipino crew members who worked on Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean between 2019 and 2024.
« Some North Koreans aboard were forced to work at sea for nearly a decade, sometimes without ever setting foot on land, » the report states.
« Even six months at sea is too long for me; I would be stressed. I can’t even imagine years, » one sailor testified.
« Every time we saw them, the North Koreans looked extremely stressed, » said an Indonesian crew member.
The report concludes that this forced labor represents a scale of exploitation far greater than what is already observed in the global fishing industry, which is known for numerous labor abuses.
China’s Involvement… But Not Only China
When asked to comment, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that he was « not aware of the details » of the case.
« But in principle, I want to emphasize that China always requires its high-seas fishing activities to comply with local laws, regulations, and international law, » he stated at a regular press briefing.
« The cooperation between China and North Korea takes place entirely within the framework of international law, » he added.
The report also claims that vessels using North Korean labor may have supplied fish to markets in Europe, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
« China bears significant responsibility, but when products from modern slavery end up on our plates, it is clear that governments and regulators must also play their part, » said Steve Trent, founder of the EJF, in a statement.
