Not just weapons: North Korea sends cheap labor to Russia
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
North Korea has sent about 15,000 labor migrants to Russia, where a shrinking population and war-related mobilization have caused a labor shortage, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to Russian statistical data, the number of North Koreans entering Russia in 2024 rose 12-fold compared to the previous year. Many reportedly arrived on student visas.
Most of the workers are currently based in the Russian Far East, but industrial leaders hope more will arrive in major cities and other regions.
Local employers appreciate North Korean laborers for their willingness to work 12-hour days for low wages without complaints.
Russia’s labor ministry estimates that the country’s labor shortage could reach 2.4 million by 2030 - up from 1.5 million today.
Notably, the UN Security Council banned the use of North Korean laborers abroad in 2019.
North Korea–Russia cooperation
Last fall, North Korea sent troops who were later stationed in Russia’s Kursk region. They take part in combat operations against Ukraine.
According to the latest South Korean intelligence, North Korea has already lost around 4,700 soldiers in the war.
Recently, Russia publicly acknowledged for the first time that North Korean soldiers are fighting in Ukraine’s Kursk region. North Korea has also confirmed the participation of its troops in the war.
In addition to manpower, Pyongyang continues to supply Russia with ammunition, ballistic missiles used to strike Ukraine, and other weapons systems, including artillery.
