Illegal Wildlife Trade in North Korea Poses Threat to Endangered Species

A groundbreaking new study published by University College London (UCL) researchers reveals the extensive and troubling impact of North Korea’s illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade, a practice that not only violates the country’s own protective legislation but also endangers regional biodiversity. Conducted in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), and the University of Inland Norway, this comprehensive research offers the first in-depth examination of the multifaceted and covert wildlife trade occurring in North Korea, spanning from 2021 to 2022.

Despite North Korea’s formal regulatory frameworks intended to protect wildlife and designate conservation areas, the study exposes pervasive violations driven by both local consumption needs and a lucrative black market. Interviews with North Korean defectors—including former hunters, intermediaries in the wildlife trade, and consumers—highlight a system where the state’s legal protections are routinely disregarded. This creates a dangerous precedent where endangered and legally protected species are harvested and traded within the country and across its borders, especially to China.

This investigation sheds light on state-sanctioned involvement in the wildlife trade. Contrary to expectations, the North Korean government appears to be actively participating and financially benefiting from the harvesting and commerce of protected species such as Asiatic black bears, long-tailed gorals, and Eurasian otters. These species, though safeguarded under national and international laws, are utilized domestically and exported via state-controlled channels, blending conservation policy with economic necessity.

A critical component of the wildlife extraction system is the operation of state-run wildlife farms. North Korea’s bear bile farms, for instance, are among the earliest established in Asia and precede similar institutions in China and South Korea. Bear bile, long prized in traditional Asian medicines for its purported therapeutic properties, is extracted under conditions widely condemned by animal rights advocates. These farms not only perpetuate the demand for endangered animals but also raise serious welfare concerns for the captive populations.

Economic hardship remains a profound driver of both sanctioned and black market wildlife trade in North Korea. The collapse of the country’s economy in the 1990s, marked by a catastrophic famine causing millions of deaths, catalyzed an informal economy centered on survival and subsistence. With food scarcity and income shortages persisting, many citizens resort to hunting and trading wildlife, oftentimes illegally, as a vital food source and source of income. This dual economy supports both the government’s sanctioned trade and an ongoing, shadowy black market.

The nuanced dynamics of this trade highlight a complex interaction between hunters and state mechanisms. Hunters may simultaneously engage in official and illicit sales; an animal’s hide might be sent to the state, while its meat is sold clandestinely or kept for personal use, creating a complicated economic ecosystem vulnerable to exploitation. This blending of legal and illegal commerce complicates enforcement and skews the true scale of wildlife exploitation in the country.

The ecological repercussions of rampant wildlife harvesting in North Korea are stark. Nearly all native mammals exceeding half a kilogram in body weight have been subjected to hunting pressure, leading to sharp population declines. Iconic species such as sable martens face possible functional extinction locally, while apex predators like Amur tigers and leopards continue to confront severe threats, exacerbated by habitat fragmentation and cross-border hunting practices.

The ongoing depletion of wildlife populations within North Korea has broader implications for regional biodiversity. The Korean Peninsula serves as a critical corridor for terrestrial species migrating between mainland Asia and the peninsula’s ecosystems. North Korea’s role as a barrier—both physical and political—imperils this connectivity. Furthermore, the potential targeting of recovering Amur tiger populations along border areas threatens conservation gains made in adjacent Chinese territories.

China emerges as the central international market linked to the North Korean wildlife trade. Demand for products ranging from wild meat and furs to body parts for traditional medicine fuels continuous poaching and smuggling operations. This transnational trade violates several international mandates, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and United Nations Security Council sanctions that limit trade activities with North Korea.

The study underscores an urgent need for enforcement of domestic wildlife protections within North Korea, alongside concerted diplomatic pressure from China and the global community. Given China’s economic leverage over its neighbor, enhanced cooperation and demand-side interventions could significantly disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks. Without such coordinated action, the ecological and conservation crises posed by North Korea’s wildlife trade will likely intensify.

Lead author Dr. Joshua Elves-Powell from UCL Geography emphasized the dire conservation implications, stating that the harvesting of North Korea’s wildlife is intricately linked to the economic struggles and shortages faced by its citizens. This multifaceted crisis reflects a complex intersection of human survival imperatives and biodiversity loss, necessitating integrated approaches that address both humanitarian and environmental dimensions.

The findings of this research not only illuminate the clandestine wildlife trade in one of the world’s most secretive states but also highlight the role of political, economic, and social factors in driving environmental degradation. Tackling these challenges will require transparency, international collaboration, and innovative policy frameworks that reconcile development needs with species conservation goals in the region.

In sum, this pioneering study lays bare the contradictions between North Korea’s legislative wildlife protections and the realities of ongoing exploitation, state involvement, and market demand. It calls for urgent, multifaceted interventions to safeguard endangered species, support local livelihoods sustainably, and preserve the rich biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

Subject of Research: People

Article Title: Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade during periods of extreme hardship threatens biodiversity in North Korea

News Publication Date: 9-May-2025

Web References:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111102

References:
Elves-Powell, J., Axmacher, J.C., Linnell, J.D.C., Duranta, S.M., “Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade during periods of extreme hardship threatens biodiversity in North Korea,” Biological Conservation, 2025.

Image Credits:
Image by Dr. Joshua Elves-Powell – Asiatic black bear on a bear bile farm in South Korea.

Keywords:
Endangered species, Conservation ecology, Conservation biology, Wildlife, Wildlife management, International law

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