South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered tougher enforcement against Chinese fishing vessels operating illegally in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Tuesday, following reports that boats have repeatedly fled into North Korean waters to evade ROK patrols during crab season.

Speaking during a policy briefing by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard, Lee criticized “increasingly aggressive resistance” by Chinese boats during crackdowns.

South Korean authorities have repeatedly accused Chinese fishing boats of operating unlawfully in its waters, with violations ranging from fishing without permits and falsifying catch reports to deploying prohibited equipment.

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