A BBC report reveals that North Korean workers are subjected to abysmal conditions in Russia, as Moscow turns to them to address labor shortages exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Interviews with escapees illustrate the severe exploitation and control these workers endure.
North Korean Laborers Face Harsh Exploitation in Russia Amid Labor Shortage
North Korean Laborers Face Harsh Exploitation in Russia Amid Labor Shortage
Over 50,000 North Koreans are sent to Russia under slave-like conditions to meet rising demands due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
In the wake of Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine, more than 50,000 North Koreans are reportedly being sent to work in severe and degrading conditions. The BBC has investigated the plight of these laborers, revealing that they are exploited to fill a void left by Russian servicemen, many of whom have been killed, are engaged in combat, or have fled the country.
Six North Korean workers who escaped recently provided insights into their experiences, describing lives akin to servitude. They detailed overwhelming workdays, laboring on construction sites for over 18 hours daily, with only two days off a year. "The outside world is our enemy," stated one worker, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere under which they toil.
Profoundly harsh conditions are prevalent on the work sites, where safety equipment is limited, and workers are often confined under constant surveillance from North Korean security agents. The appalling living conditions include cramped and unsanitary quarters in shipping containers or unfinished buildings, leaving laborers vulnerable to illness and injuries, with little access to medical care.
In recent years, North Korean laborers have been a crucial source of income for the isolated country's regime. However, international sanctions imposed in 2019 limited this practice, aiming to cut funding for the Kim Jong Un government. Despite this, an alarming resurgence of North Korean laborers laboring in Russia is being reported, with over 10,000 sent last year alone and predictions that over 50,000 will continue to arrive in the coming period.
Rising numbers of North Koreans entering Russia have been observed, though many arrive under misleading pretenses, such as student visas, indicating attempts to evade international sanctions. The laborers remain largely invisible within the Russian economy, working in construction and other sectors while receiving scant pay that often goes straight to their government.
With reports of severe crackdowns and increased monitoring by North Korean authorities in recent months, the prospects for escape remain grim. The exodus of laborers fleeing to South Korea has halved due to intensified restrictions and ideological training sessions forced upon them by the North Korean regime.
As these conditions continue, experts are warning that the situation of North Korean laborers may persist long after the conflict subsides, signaling a chilling alliance between Kim Jong Un's North Korea and Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Six North Korean workers who escaped recently provided insights into their experiences, describing lives akin to servitude. They detailed overwhelming workdays, laboring on construction sites for over 18 hours daily, with only two days off a year. "The outside world is our enemy," stated one worker, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere under which they toil.
Profoundly harsh conditions are prevalent on the work sites, where safety equipment is limited, and workers are often confined under constant surveillance from North Korean security agents. The appalling living conditions include cramped and unsanitary quarters in shipping containers or unfinished buildings, leaving laborers vulnerable to illness and injuries, with little access to medical care.
In recent years, North Korean laborers have been a crucial source of income for the isolated country's regime. However, international sanctions imposed in 2019 limited this practice, aiming to cut funding for the Kim Jong Un government. Despite this, an alarming resurgence of North Korean laborers laboring in Russia is being reported, with over 10,000 sent last year alone and predictions that over 50,000 will continue to arrive in the coming period.
Rising numbers of North Koreans entering Russia have been observed, though many arrive under misleading pretenses, such as student visas, indicating attempts to evade international sanctions. The laborers remain largely invisible within the Russian economy, working in construction and other sectors while receiving scant pay that often goes straight to their government.
With reports of severe crackdowns and increased monitoring by North Korean authorities in recent months, the prospects for escape remain grim. The exodus of laborers fleeing to South Korea has halved due to intensified restrictions and ideological training sessions forced upon them by the North Korean regime.
As these conditions continue, experts are warning that the situation of North Korean laborers may persist long after the conflict subsides, signaling a chilling alliance between Kim Jong Un's North Korea and Vladimir Putin's Russia.
