NK Fishing Rights

[Anchor Lead]

KBS has obtained evidence that Chinese criminal organizations are serving as a broker in transacting fishing rights in the North Korean sea with the help of the North Korean military.

[Pkg]

A KBS team met a Chinese businessman in Shidao port in Shandong Province, China. He maintains close relations with local maritime industry insiders. The businessman said that the right to fish in the North Korean sea can be purchased only through Chinese criminal organizations.

[Soundbite] Chinese Businessman(Voice modified): "The fees are some 11,770 U.S. dollars."

They are based in Donggang in Dandong, which is near North Korea. People have to pay the Chinese gang organizations if they want to buy the right to operate in the North Korean part of the Yellow Sea.

[Soundbite] Chinese Businessman(Voice modified) : "(Is it paid in cash or remitted?) It is remitted. Dongbei is far from here. Who can go there?"

[Soundbite] Chinese Businessman(Voice modified) : "Upon being notified of the ship's number, they tell fishers about their operation hours."

A more shocking fact is that the North Korean military is the partner of these Chinese criminal organizations.

[Soundbite] Chinese Businessman(Voice modified) : "The military is in charge of everything, including fishing."

Chinese fishing vessels are operating in the waters near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, with their low-priced contracts between the North Korean military and Chinese criminal organizations.