Following North Korea’s sale to China of fishing rights in large areas of surrounding seas,(click here) competition among North Korean fishing boats for what is left has led to robberies and other clashes, sources say.
Fishermen who formerly fished freely in resource-rich areas are now crowded into smaller zones where competition is “intense,” a source in North Hamgyong province told RFA’s Korean Service.
“Big fishing boats, small fishing boats, steel ships, wooden ships, and other kinds of boats now sail out to increase their catch, and marine accidents constantly take place,” RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In addition, fishing boats attached to North Korean military units now frequently approach privately owned vessels and “commit acts of piracy by violently taking fish and gas,” the source said.
“The Ninth Corps Fisheries Base has a 500-horsepower fishing boat, a 200-horsepower fishing boat, and other big fishing boats,” the source said.
“When there is a decrease in their own catch, the military fishing boats attack and rob civilian fishing boats affiliated with the Chongjin Fishery Company, the Yu-Gi-Hang-Man Fishery Company, and the Go-Mal-San Fishery Company,” he said....
North Korea is a third world country and no economic sanctions will matter. I believe half the reason Un sold these rights to China is because China has bigger guns that can settle disputes. The other half of the reason Un sold the fishing rights to China is to continue to develop missiles capable of reaching to it's favorite enemies.
Regardless, the reason, the FACT Un sold fishing rights of an impoverished country proves without a doubt there is little regard for the condition of the North Korean people so much as his STRATEGY to finally end the isolation of North Korea.
The real problem here is communication. No one in the free world understands the culture and politics within North Korea. We know they like basketball.
But, American politics demands there is all kinds of fear within the Korean Peninsula. That reason alone the idea aggression will work is nonsense. North Korea has problems beyond problems. The nuclear program DOES prevent "The Axis of Evil" military from invading the country and taking over to remove the DMZ.
I suggest the failure of the missile by North Korea is more proof the country has failed economically and continues to deteriorate. The desperate Un has few choices, either he continues his reign of international terror to the extent it exists or he leave North Korea in exile. It makes sense Un will take everyone with him should a nuclear war break out. That attitude includes any country within the fall out distance of such foolishness.
Maybe every decision maker in this chain of self-destruction needs a reminder. The words, "Nuclear winter is severe, but, survivable." is irresponsible. What kind of survival are they talking about?
The idea of "unintended consequences" is very real.
