Beijing has repeatedly warned fishing vessels against operating in waters near the Korean Peninsula throughout this year, NK News analysis shows, raising questions about why Chinese boats continue to engage in illegal fishing from North Korean waters.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a directiveon March 27 under its China Fishery Law Enforcement Sword 2025 campaign that called on agencies to “jointly crack down on Chinese fishing vessels illegally exiting the country or crossing boundaries to fish in waters under the jurisdiction of North Korea, South Korea … as well as sensitive waters between North and South