The government has announced a joint interagency measure to eradicate illegal fishing by Chinese vessels near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. The plan includes strengthening enforcement personnel and equipment, such as augmenting the Korea Coast Guard’s special suppression units, and enhancing diplomatic cooperation with China for joint crackdowns.
The Korea Coast Guard, on the 27th, unveiled the joint ‘West Sea NLL Illegal Fishing Foreign Vessel Response Plan’ with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The government will first intensify crackdowns on Chinese fishing vessels near the NLL. To this end, it will simplify military-police information-sharing procedures and plans to penalize not only illegal fishing but also acts of anchoring and supplying goods in the NLL zone.
Additionally, dedicated removal vessels will operate to forcibly dismantle illegal fishing gear, such as fish traps, installed by Chinese vessels in the NLL area. The government will also install additional artificial structures made of steel and stone to counter Chinese pair-trawling vessels that fish by dragging nets along the seabed.
To bolster on-site enforcement capabilities, the government will push forward with establishing the Baengnyeong Special Suppression Unit under the West Sea Five Islands Special Security Unit of the Central Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. This will allow the Coast Guard’s special suppression units, currently operating on Yeonpyeong and Daechong Islands, to also operate on Baengnyeong Island.
Cooperative crackdowns with China and diplomatic collaboration will also be expanded.
According to the Coast Guard, the average daily number of Chinese fishing vessels near the NLL was 94 in 2023, 90 in 2024, and 97 in 2025. As of this month, 77 vessels have been engaged in long-term fishing 2–4 km south of the NLL near Baengnyeong, Socheong, and Yeonpyeong Islands.
The government plans to apply this response plan from September to strengthen crackdowns on illegal foreign fishing vessels.
Acting Coast Guard Commissioner Jang In-sik stated, “The West Sea NLL area is a critical zone for safeguarding South Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty. The government will respond resolutely to illegal activities by foreign vessels to protect the lives and safety of our people and the livelihoods of our fishermen.”
President Lee Jae Myung, during a visit to the Yeonpyeong Peace Observatory on June 24, directly inspected the illegal fishing activities of Chinese vessels and ordered the preparation of countermeasures. At the time, the president remarked, “They are clearly crossing the NLL line we have officially recognized. We cannot just leave this unaddressed. Isn’t this too blatant during broad daylight?”
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