"Exclusive: North Korean forced labor behind Chinese seafood sold in South Korea," 9 April 2024

...Investigations conducted by The Chosunilbo, in collaboration with The Outlaw Ocean Project, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., have revealed that at least three out of six Chinese seafood processing companies confirmed to employ North Korean workers exported around 420 tons of goods to South Korea between 2020 and 2022. These products, processed by North Korean laborers, were distributed across the country after arriving at Busan Port from Dalian Port in China. It has been identified that there are over 400 North Korean workers employed at these three companies.

...products exported to South Korea by Dandong Taihua received high ratings on supermarket A’s website, praised for their convenience due to the removal of shells, likely performed by North Korean laborers. Another Korean importer, purchasing various shellfish and seafood from Dandong Taifeng Foodstuff, advertised their products being used in the seafood corner of large supermarkets.

...The Outlaw Ocean Project’s encounters with anonymous North Korean laborers revealed instances of daily physical abuse and sexual violence. One female North Korean worker employed by Dalian Haiqing Food, which exported 276.2 tons of frozen Alaska pollock intestines to South Korea from late 2019 to May 2022, testified to receiving death threats if caught trying to escape. Another female worker recounted being coerced into sexual acts during parties.

The Outlaw Ocean Project highlighted that North Korean laborers in Chinese factories endure constant surveillance by security personnel, working up to 18 hours a day with only one day off per month.

...South Korea, however, lacks specific legislation prohibiting the import of goods produced by North Korean labor, relying on individual assessments based on UN Security Council resolutions.

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