For up to a decade, North Koreans were obligated by their government to work on Chinese tuna longliners in the Indian Ocean, where they endured harsh conditions and were frequently not allowed to set foot on land. Salaries for these workers went straight to North Korea’s government, where it formed a new revenue stream for Kim Jong-un’s cash-strapped regime. Despite a UN ban on hiring North Korean workers because of the country’s funding for its nuclear weapons program, the workers were still deployed in various industries abroad. They faced poor living conditions, were often forced to work long hours, and had no freedom to leave the ships. The Chinese distant-water fleet is the largest in the world, making it difficult to estimate exactly how many North Koreans were involved. These workers were also required to spy on each other and maintain a life of indoctrination while abroad. Many are likely still working overseas despite the UN resolution in 2017 that called for their expulsion.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/world/asia/north-korea-china-fishing-boats.html