August 26, 2005

Russian warships arrested eight North Korean fishing boats for poaching in Russian waters. Fishing is a major industry for the north, especially since the product can be exported for cash, that can be used to buy foreign goods. 

North Korea has expanded the number of sites South Korean tourists can visit. These tourists are a major source of foreign currency for the North Korean economy. However, the North Koreans also use the tourist business to make threats and bully the South Koreans. The north will threaten to cut the number of tourists, in order to force some concession out of the south.