North Korean Labour Fuels Russia

Moscow’s Shadow Workforce: How Pyongyang’s Labourers Power Russia’s Economy

A troubling partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang is revealing a grim new aspect of Russia's war-focused economy. The Kremlin, grappling with a significant worker deficit intensified by its military campaign in Ukraine, now brings in countless citizens from North Korea. These individuals are forced to work in conditions that are nothing short of modern-day servitude. Their labour on Russian building sites and inside factories creates a stream of foreign cash for the isolated government of Kim Jong Un. This entire enterprise flouts global sanctions and exposes the stark compromises that support the war. For these men, what was a chance to overcome poverty transforms into a harrowing ordeal of control, exploitation, and hopelessness far from their homes.

A Partnership Born from War

The alliance between Russia and North Korea has evolved into a crucial wartime coalition. Pyongyang supplies Moscow with vital military equipment for its offensive in Ukraine. In exchange, Russia provides North Korea with financial assistance, technological expertise, and essential political backing. This mutually beneficial arrangement goes deeper than mere weapons transactions. It signifies a tactical alignment between two states brought together by their shared defiance of the West. The trafficking of workers is a direct outcome of this agreement, establishing a dependable labour pool for Russia while channelling much-needed money to the government in Pyongyang. This stark exchange highlights the pragmatic and extreme actions both governments are prepared to undertake.

The Human Commodity

Intelligence sources in South Korea have reported a massive increase in North Korean nationals crossing into Russia. In 2024 alone, arrivals surpassed ten thousand, and some officials project the total could exceed fifty thousand. This pattern is supported by official Russian data, which indicates that over thirteen thousand individuals from North Korea entered the nation last year, a 12-fold jump from the year prior. Such a swift rise in numbers points to a calculated plan to address the labour shortages created by military call-ups and the flight of Russian men. The magnitude of this operation suggests a well-coordinated, state-to-state contract.

Defying Global Sanctions

This labour transfer is in direct opposition to a 2019 United Nations Security Council resolution. That edict explicitly bars nations from employing personnel from North Korea. The purpose of the sanctions was to prevent Pyongyang from acquiring funds for its illegal nuclear arms development. Russia, which holds a permanent seat on the Security Council and approved the sanctions, now disregards them openly. To get around the prohibition, Moscow uses a simple deception. It grants thousands of student passes to the incoming North Korean men, fabricating a legal status that hides the real purpose of their presence. This overt contempt for international agreements underscores Russia's growing estrangement and its dependence on allies operating outside of established global norms.

Conditions on the Work Site

For the men from North Korea, the situation on the ground is brutal. They face exhausting work shifts that often exceed eighteen hours. A standard workday starts at six in the morning and concludes at two the next day. They receive only two days of rest for an entire year. The job itself, concentrated on massive building efforts, is filled with hazards. Protective gear is minimal, and the men are frequently made to continue their work in pitch-black conditions after the power is cut. This gruelling cycle strains individuals to their breaking point, fostering an atmosphere of perpetual danger and fatigue.

A Cage with No Bars

The dominion over these labourers is not limited to their work assignments. They exist in a state of isolation, monitored constantly by operatives from North Korea’s powerful state security service. Their living spaces are filthy and subhuman. A great number are made to sleep in foul, cramped shipping containers crawling with insects. Others must rest on the unfinished floors of the very structures they are erecting. They hang simple tarps over entryways in a futile effort to ward off the biting cold. These arrangements guarantee complete authority and block any contact with the broader community, essentially forming an open-air prison.

Stripped of Their Pay

The prospect of earning wages to support their families is the main driver for nearly all the workers. This aspiration, however, is swiftly crushed. The largest share of their earnings is taken directly by the Pyongyang government, labelled as "loyalty contributions." This setup guarantees the financial benefit of the Kim regime. The tiny portion left over, typically between one hundred and two hundred dollars monthly, is not given to them. Instead, it is noted in a book. The men are informed they will get the total amount only after they go back to North Korea, a method experts suggest is intended to deter them from escaping.

The Devastating Human Cost

The physical and mental harm done to these men is staggering. One worker described a fall from a four-metre height on a building site which mangled his face and made him unable to continue his duties. In spite of his state, his managers denied him clearance to see a doctor, abandoning him to his suffering. The overwhelming fatigue causes some to doze off on their feet, only to be discovered and assaulted by their overseers. An escapee detailed the dread of starting each day, aware he had to face the identical torment again. He described how, upon waking, his hands would often be stiff and useless, seized up from the unceasing toil of the day before.

A Spark of Digital Defiance

Within this crushing system, a very small group has found ways to plan their getaways. Their connection to the world is often a prohibited, previously-owned mobile phone. The men obtain these gadgets by putting aside the meagre daily fund they are given for tobacco and spirits. The devices offer a peek into a different life, letting them comprehend the huge gap between their own circumstances and those of others. For one man named Tae, viewing online videos about salaries in South Korea was the final push he needed to attempt a run for freedom. This digital link, while dangerous, gives them an indispensable means for planning and communicating.

The Dangerous Escape

The decision to flee is a gamble with one's life. A worker named Tae made his break in the dead of night. He put his few possessions into a trash bag and positioned a folded blanket in his bed to fake his presence. He then slipped away from the work compound and flagged down a car. His subsequent trip was a monumental feat, covering many thousands of kilometres through the Russian wilderness. He aimed to connect with a legal advisor who had been arranged ahead of time. This person was vital for organising his last, secret passage to Seoul and the start of a new existence.

Pyongyang’s Iron Fist Clenches

The government in North Korea, disturbed by the escapes, has ramped up its mechanisms of restraint. The already sparse liberties of the men have been tightened. Chances to leave their compounds, which were formerly allowed in small parties, have been all but stopped. According to Professor Kang Dong-wan, a specialist who has spoken with these men in Russia, Pyongyang is also holding more frequent ideological lessons. These meetings compel the men to declare their devotion to Kim Jong Un and take part in public self-reproach, strengthening the regime's mental grip and stamping out any thoughts of defiance.

Next Stop: Donbas?

The use of North Korean manpower could soon spread to Ukrainian lands under Russian control. Sergei Shoigu, a high-level Russian figure, lately verified a plan to dispatch five thousand men from North Korea to assist in rebuilding the Kursk area. This zone near the Ukrainian frontier has been the site of intense clashes. Additionally, sources within South Korean intelligence suggest it is exceptionally probable that Moscow will send some of these individuals to work on restoration projects in Ukrainian regions now managed by the Russian army. Such a development would weave North Korean manpower into the fabric of the Russian occupation, adding another layer of complexity to any potential future peace.

The World’s Quiet Response

The global community has been noticeably quiet about this clear breach of sanctions. While the government in Seoul has been key in exposing the situation, a wider, collective denunciation has failed to appear. Human rights groups persist in cataloging the abuses, but tangible responses from international organizations are not forthcoming. This lack of action permits Russia and North Korea to proceed with their deal without penalty. It suggests that a permanent UN Security Council member can flout resolutions it endorsed without any serious repercussions, weakening the credibility of the entire global sanctions system.

Russia's Ideal Workforce

From the Kremlin's viewpoint, the men from North Korea present a flawless fix for a major issue. Andrei Lankov, an esteemed professor at Seoul's Kookmin University, calls them a "perfect answer." These labourers are inexpensive, obedient, and not prone to creating social or political disturbances. Their segregated and supervised life means they do not mix with the general Russian population, which reduces any chance of conflict. They offer a manpower source that is both efficient and easily controlled. This cold-hearted calculation places economic needs and wartime convenience above basic human rights and global law, offering a sobering look at the Kremlin's current mindset.

The Selection System Back Home

In North Korea, getting a construction assignment overseas is an intensely sought-after opportunity. For regular people, it is one of the few avenues to break free from severe poverty. The allure for applicants is the prospect of saving enough to secure a home or launch an enterprise after their return. Consequently, the state can afford to be incredibly particular. Authorities pick only the most dependable and devoted individuals following a thorough screening. A non-negotiable term of their service is that their families must remain in North Korea. This policy acts as a potent form of emotional blackmail, guaranteeing obedience and deterring any thoughts of leaving.

The Weight of Humiliation

The psychological burden of this system is immense. The men are not just physically drained; they are also methodically stripped of their humanity. A worker named Jin remembered with acrimony how others on the job would mock his group. They were branded "slaves" and told they were subhuman, "just machines that can talk." Another man conveyed the deep embarrassment he felt after finding out that his peers from other parts of Asia were paid five times as much for doing only a fraction of the labour. This persistent belittling eats away at an individual's dignity and deepens the feeling of being stuck in an inescapable trap.

The Activists on the Frontline

In the face of enormous personal risk, a small web of campaigners works relentlessly to aid the workers' flight. Operating mostly from Seoul, these groups and people offer a critical escape route. Kim Seung-chul is one such individual who orchestrates rescue efforts. His role includes setting up secret lines of communication with the men and handling the intricate details of their removal. However, the escalating pressure from the Pyongyang government is making this mission more hazardous. The dramatic fall in successful escapes—from about twenty in 2022 to merely ten in the last year—shows how much the surveillance has intensified.

A Dark and Lasting Alliance

Specialists contend this labour channel is not merely a temporary fix for wartime. Andrei Lankov posits that this workforce will be the "enduring legacy" of the bond between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. He foresees that the supply of labourers will persist well beyond the end of hostilities in Ukraine. This system has now become a permanent feature of the strengthened ties between the two powers. It points to a durable economic and political union, founded on parallel interests and a shared contempt for global standards. The abuse of these individuals is poised to be a long-standing characteristic of the Russia-North Korea bond.