North Korean laborers in Russia are enduring dire conditions reminiscent of slavery, with reports indicating that over 50,000 North Koreans could be sent to work amid Russia's need for manpower due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. These workers, sent in response to labor shortages from military casualties and desertions, face egregiously long workweeks that extend to more than 18 hours a day, with minimal time off and harsh surveillance from North Korean agents.
Interviews with six escapees reveal harrowing experiences of frustration and physical suffering. One worker, named Jin, recalled being escorted directly from the airport to construction sites, prohibited from interacting with others or observing his surroundings. Under extreme working hours from dawn until 2 AM, many resorted to sleeping on-site due to exhaustion, only to be threatened with violence by supervisors for any sign of fatigue.
Kang Dong-wan, an academic who has extensively researched the plight of North Korean laborers in Russia, shed light on the dangerous working conditions facing these individuals, where safety equipment is lacking and they often toil in the dark. Various workers recounted being forced to live in squalid conditions, with some recounting severe injuries from workplace accidents that were ignored by their supervisors.
While North Korea previously had tens of thousands of workers abroad contributing significant revenue to Kim Jong Un's regime, UN sanctions led to a decline in their presence. However, recent intelligence suggests a resurgence of North Korean laborers entering Russia. The ongoing war has prompted the Russian government to increase hiring from North Korea, despite sanctions barring such practices.
North Korean laborers are now reportedly involved in various sectors beyond construction—including clothing production and IT—raising concerns about violations of international laws. The issue is compounded by the desperate economic situation in North Korea, where these workers are lured abroad by the prospect of higher earnings. Despite working under perilous conditions and receiving meager wages—often less than their counterparts in Central Asia—the majority of their earnings are siphoned off by the North Korean state.
As reports of worker escapes emerge, the North Korean government has intensified restrictions and surveillance to prevent defections. With an apparent policy to increase ideological training sessions and limit workers' freedoms, the opportunity to escape has declined drastically in recent years.
Experts warn that as the collaboration between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin strengthens, the influx of North Korean workers is likely to continue, marking a troubling chapter in the nexus of war, labor exploitation, and human rights abuses.
Interviews with six escapees reveal harrowing experiences of frustration and physical suffering. One worker, named Jin, recalled being escorted directly from the airport to construction sites, prohibited from interacting with others or observing his surroundings. Under extreme working hours from dawn until 2 AM, many resorted to sleeping on-site due to exhaustion, only to be threatened with violence by supervisors for any sign of fatigue.
Kang Dong-wan, an academic who has extensively researched the plight of North Korean laborers in Russia, shed light on the dangerous working conditions facing these individuals, where safety equipment is lacking and they often toil in the dark. Various workers recounted being forced to live in squalid conditions, with some recounting severe injuries from workplace accidents that were ignored by their supervisors.
While North Korea previously had tens of thousands of workers abroad contributing significant revenue to Kim Jong Un's regime, UN sanctions led to a decline in their presence. However, recent intelligence suggests a resurgence of North Korean laborers entering Russia. The ongoing war has prompted the Russian government to increase hiring from North Korea, despite sanctions barring such practices.
North Korean laborers are now reportedly involved in various sectors beyond construction—including clothing production and IT—raising concerns about violations of international laws. The issue is compounded by the desperate economic situation in North Korea, where these workers are lured abroad by the prospect of higher earnings. Despite working under perilous conditions and receiving meager wages—often less than their counterparts in Central Asia—the majority of their earnings are siphoned off by the North Korean state.
As reports of worker escapes emerge, the North Korean government has intensified restrictions and surveillance to prevent defections. With an apparent policy to increase ideological training sessions and limit workers' freedoms, the opportunity to escape has declined drastically in recent years.
Experts warn that as the collaboration between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin strengthens, the influx of North Korean workers is likely to continue, marking a troubling chapter in the nexus of war, labor exploitation, and human rights abuses.
