Thousands of North Koreans are being sent to work in Russia under what many describe as slave-like conditions as a direct consequence of labor shortages exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The BBC reports that over 50,000 North Koreans are expected to be dispatched to fill the gaps left by Russian men who have fallen in combat or chosen to evade conscription.
Interviews conducted with six North Korean workers who managed to escape highlight the dire circumstances upon arrival. These laborers are subjected to extreme working conditions, often exceeding 18-hour workdays on construction sites with little rest, claiming that the North Korean government has tightened its grip on their movements to prevent escapes. One worker, who identified himself as Jin, described being escorted by a North Korean security agent from the airport to his work site, where he was prohibited from speaking with anyone outside.
The tales of these defectors expose a grim reality: workers often labor from dawn until the early morning hours with barely any breaks, confined to their sites under continuous surveillance. These harsh conditions have led to frequent injuries without access to medical care, as illustrated by the account of Nam, who sustained a serious injury but was denied medical leave.
The influx of North Korean workers is largely a response to UN sanctions imposed to curb Kim Jong Un's regime's funding, which had previously relied heavily on earnings from overseas labor. In 2019, countries were banned from employing North Korean laborers, forcing many back home. However, recent intelligence indicates that over 10,000 North Koreans have returned to Russia to meet its urgent labor needs, with projections suggesting numbers will swell significantly.
Experts note that these workers are viewed as a viable option for Russia's economic needs — they are inexpensive, industrious, and avoid trouble compared to other labor forces. According to Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert, Russia sees North Korean workers as a solution to their labor crisis while Kim's regime benefits financially from the international breach of sanctions.
While these overseas positions are often seen as more lucrative than domestic options in North Korea, the reality may shock many workers. After discovering significant wage disparities with non-North Korean laborers, some began to question their situation, feeling trapped in what felt like a "labor camp."
The North Korean regime has initiated a round of ideological trainings aimed at further controlling the workers. Freedom has become increasingly limited, with fewer opportunities for the workers to leave their sites, which has also led to a sharp decrease in successful escapes to South Korea.
These alarming testimonies reflect the continued exploitation of North Korean citizens and raise pressing questions about international human rights in the context of Russia's war efforts and diplomacy with North Korea. Observers suggest that the harsh conditions faced by these workers could persist beyond the war, marking a troubling chapter in North Korean-Russian relations.
