Civic Register
| 10.6.17

Walmart Salmon Has Fishy Ties To North Korean Nuclear Program

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What’s the story?

The Associated Press has released an exclusive report revealing that North Korean workers are being used as slave labor in Chinese seafood factories to earn money for the North Korean regime. Fish from those factories has ended up in Walmart and Aldi grocery stores in the U.S., meaning U.S. consumers have inadvertently funded the North Korean government.

Why does it matter?

It is a federal crime for anyone in the U.S. to provide money to the North Korean government. Such activity is in violation of sanctions, aimed at curbing the regime’s ability to expand their nuclear capability.

According to the Associated Press the North Korean government has gotten around those restrictions by having North Korean citizens work at Chinese and Russian factories, then claiming the vast majority of their wages.

A factory in Hunchun, China was found by the Associated Press to be one of dozens that employs North Korean workers, and also supplies stores in the United States, including Walmart and Aldi.

Both Walmart and Aldi stated they were aware of the problem and had taken steps to remove the suspect fish from their supply chain. The quantity that has already been purchased, however, means the fish could be in markets for up to a year. Also, brands that are owned in other countries, like Canada and Thailand, may still be sourcing through the Hunchun factories.

What do you think?

Should Congress and the U.N. take steps to assure that U.S. companies are not selling seafood that is packaged using slave labor and/or providing money to North Korea? Will this information change your buying choices or not?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Maxpixel / Creative Commons )

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