Pyongyang sells fishing rights to Taiwanese fishermen: Yonhap

By Park Sae-jin Posted : October 14, 2016, 11:18 Updated : October 14, 2016, 11:18

[Yonhap News Photo]


North Korea has allowed Taiwanese fishermen to operate in waters off its east coast in a bid to secure governing funds for leader Kim Jong-un, a source said Friday.

The sale of fishing rights allows Taiwanese boats to operate legally within its exclusive economic zone in the East Sea, the 200-nautical-mile offshore area where a country has the right to explore resources, according to the source familiar with North Korean affairs.

The move followed similar sales of rights to Chinese fishermen which are estimated to have generated 82 billion won (72.2 million US dollars) for North Korea annually.

"Dozens of 300-ton Taiwanese vessels are found to be operating in the East Sea," the source said. "North Korea is known to have asked a Taiwanese ship to pay about 1.6 million won per day."

It said that North Korea is also demanding that Taiwan employ North Korean workers and pay some $500 in monthly wage. Seoul's intelligence authorities said they are checking relevant information.

The North's move came as Pyongyang is facing difficulty in earning hard currency in the face of tougher international sanctions. Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said in late August that the North's leadership is under pressure as the country's governing funds are drying up.

Shin Un, president of the Institute for National Security Strategy, said that North Korea's governing fund size may have shrunk to about 40 percent compared to the past.

(Yonhap)
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기