North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent visit to China, his first in five years, has reignited diplomatic ties between the two nations. Following a joint appearance with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing, the leaders held a bilateral summit, signaling a renewed strategic partnership after the 2019 Hanoi summit collapse with the U.S.

Beneath this diplomatic resurgence, however, lies a grim reality: the plight of North Korean workers toiling in China under coercive conditions. A recent report highlights that these laborers endure grueling 12-14 hour shifts in seafood processing plants, with up to 90% of their wages confiscated by the state. Their autonomy is severely restricted, with limited movement, communication, and no say in work terms, meeting the International Labor Organization’s criteria for forced labor.

Disturbingly, female workers face sexual exploitation prior to deployment, exchanging humiliation for necessary certifications, revealing a system of structural abuse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities imposed foreign currency quotas, tacitly encouraging prostitution. This systematic exploitation transcends labor issues, constituting severe human rights violations that strip individuals of dignity.

The products of this labor—seafood processed in China—enter global markets, often mislabeled, reaching consumers in countries like the U.S., Canada, and Spain. Despite a U.N. mandate for repatriation by 2019, thousands of workers remain abroad, generating foreign currency that funds North Korea’s regime.

China, as a U.N. Security Council member and ILO signatory, bears responsibility for tolerating these abuses within its borders. Importing companies also share blame for insufficient due diligence in their supply chains.

Addressing this crisis requires international collaboration: enhancing surveillance, securing testimonies, tracking supply chains, and implementing protective measures. As China-North Korea relations evolve, the global community must act decisively to end this cycle of oppression and uphold human rights.