North Korean Workers Face Harsh Forced Labor in Russia’s Wartime Economy
Thousands of North Korean laborers are working under brutal, exploitative conditions in Russia to fill labor shortages deepened by the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a BBC investigation published August 12.
The report, based on interviews with escapees, describes workers living in overcrowded, unsanitary housing, forced to endure 18-hour days without adequate safety gear, and subject to physical punishment if they rest on the job.
Many are brought to Russia on “student visas” to circumvent a 2019 UN ban on the use of North Korean labor abroad.
One worker, identified as Jin, said he was taken to Russia’s Far East under escort by a North Korean security agent who warned him that “the outside world is our enemy.”
He was then sent to build high-rise apartments, often working from 6 a.m. until after midnight.
Another worker, Tae, described waking up in severe pain, his hands locked from the previous day’s labor, while Chan recounted beatings for those caught dozing while standing.
North Korean security agents monitor workers constantly to prevent escapes, and wages are minimal.
Most earnings are confiscated by Pyongyang as “loyalty fees,” with only $100–$200 a month recorded for eventual payment upon return.
Despite the exploitation, many workers initially volunteer in hopes of earning more than in North Korea, but quickly realize they are paid far less than Central Asian laborers doing lighter work.
According to the BBC, more than 10,000 North Koreans were sent to Russia in 2024, with estimates suggesting that over 50,000 could eventually be deployed, including to strategic projects such as construction and IT centers in occupied Ukrainian territories.
Escapes have become increasingly rare. Activists say the number of successful defections from Russia has halved since 2022, as Pyongyang tightens control through ideological training sessions and movement restrictions.
Read more on The Gaze: Kremlin’s Foreign Legion: North Korea’s Role in Russia’s War and the New Global Divide