In a concerning revelation from University College London researchers, North Korea has been identified as a significant player in the illegal wildlife trade. The study exposes a troubling contradiction: while North Korea maintains a system of protected areas and species on paper, these protections are regularly violated—often with state involvement. It seems the country’s definition of “protected species” is more along the lines of “protected until needed for export.”
According to the researchers, the North Korean government not only turns a blind eye to wildlife exploitation but actively profits from the harvesting and trade of endangered species, including Asiatic black bears, long-tailed gorals, and Eurasian otters. This presents a sobering example of environmental legislation that exists in name only—rather like claiming to be on a diet while operating a secret cookie factory in your basement.
Perhaps most surprising is the finding that North Korea pioneered bear bile farming before the practice spread to China and South Korea. Behind the facade of isolation, the country operates wildlife farms for various species while sanctioning the hunting of protected animals.
The economic hardship that has gripped North Korea since the devastating famine of the 1990s has driven both state-sanctioned wildlife trade and a thriving black market. Citizens hunt to provide essential food resources and generate income, while the state uses wildlife products as yet another tradable resource to generate much-needed revenue. It’s capitalism with North Korean characteristics—if capitalism involved selling the last few members of protected species to your neighbor.
China’s role as the primary international market for North Korean wildlife products cannot be overlooked. Despite commitments to CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting certain exports from North Korea, China continues to provide a market for these illegal goods. This relationship has created a wildlife black market that threatens species throughout the region.
As researchers call for immediate action to address this crisis, the outlook for North Korea’s biodiversity remains grim. Species like the sable are likely functionally extinct in the country, while Amur tigers and leopards face severe threats if they cross into North Korean territory. For these creatures, nuclear tensions might be the least of their problems.
While international attention often focuses on the country’s nuclear program and human rights issues, this environmental crisis demands equal concern. For the diverse species that call the Korean Peninsula home, the consequences of continued exploitation could be devastating, potentially hindering biodiversity recovery throughout Northeast Asia for generations to come. Conservation efforts in the region face an uphill battle—though still easier than getting straight answers from Pyongyang about anything, wildlife-related or otherwise.
Note: This is an opinion column offering a wry perspective on North Korea.
