North Korean fishing boats showing propaganda to motivate crew members

Korean Central Television (KCTV) reported on a curious scene on it’s 8 o’clock news on November 21. In a scene that was broadcast, crew members on a fishing boat were seen gathered on a boat deck to watch a movie. The movie was screened on a part of the hull and after the film ended, the “Art Propaganda Squad’ was seen singing a song to encourage the crew members.
The Art Propaganda Squad can be frequently seen performing for workers at mobilization sites in North Korea, which include construction sites, coal mines, and rice paddies. As it is philosophically inappropriate to provide monetary incentives for workers in a socialist society, the propaganda squad plays a central role in boosting morale.
However, it is rare even in North Korea to screen movies and perform for workers in the middle of the sea. Such propaganda performances are usually shown at the dock before departure. The fact that the Art Squad was dispatched to the open ocean and that the movies were screened using a projector specially prepared for the event shows how committed the North Korean regime is to developing its fishing industry.
Kim Jong Un visits fisheries stations to emphasize the importance of fishing
Kim Jong Un visited a number of fisheries stations under the auspice of the Korean People’s Army on November 17 and 20. The site visits were aimed at encouraging fisheries workers to achieve their annual tonnage goals by November 7, earlier than the originally planned date. According to the North Korean media, fishermen have been catching up to 10,000 tons of sandfish every day, and have caught twice as many fish this year compared to the fishing battle (a designated period of focused fishing) last year.
Kim Jong Un has specifically emphasized the importance of the “fishing battle,” in line with similar proposals last year, when according to KCNA, he “called on the station to set a high goal to significantly increase the annual fishing harvest in a short timeframe on the basis of this year’s achievement,” and “stressed the need to organize enough rapid-freezing and refrigeration facilities to supply fresh fish to the military in all seasons and improve mechanization in unloading, sorting, freezing and storage while maintaining fishing boats and economizing the use of fishing materials.” Following these orders by the supreme leader, a campaign was launched to encourage innovation in fishing, and as such the fisheries departments have been desperately trying to improve their harvest.

Mounting pressure could put crew members’ lives in danger
Kim Jong Un’s emphasis on fishing productivity appears to have arisen from the idea that fishing can resolve the country’s chronic food shortages. While basic grain production remains important, a certain amount of meat and fish also needs to be provided to the population. However, increases in meat production cannot be achieved quickly, as cows and pigs require significant infrastructure. In contrast, as fish are relatively abundant, the regime has sought an easy solution by increasing the pressure on its fishermen.
However, there is a possibility that the pressure placed on the country’s fisherman might lead to accidents. Last year, the regime created a program which praised fishing vessels pushing ahead in high tides as loyal to the Party. As a result, a number of wrecked ships believed to be North Korean fishing boats and the bodies of crew members were found on numerous occasions along the west coast of Japan. 
*Views expressed in Guest Columns do not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK.