Firing at Chinese fishing boats

eal risks involved, Chinese fishing boats continue to ply North Korean waters with little hesitation.

Moreover, because some Chinese boats take on unlicensed crews to avoid paying the 7,000 yuan annual insurance premiums to the state, owners often do not report North Korean seizures of their boats when they occur, the source said.

“Even in the past, North Korean patrol boats often intercepted Chinese boats, but nowadays they do so much more frequently and with greater force,” the source said. “North Korean patrol boats seem to be cracking down more openly on Chinese boats as relations between China and North Korea deteriorate.”

Perhaps North Koreans feels emboldened to snub the Chinese now that they're best friends with Putin, sending troops and weapons to Ukraine. It could well be a move they'll come to regret.