Thousands of North Koreans are currently working under severe conditions in Russia, forced into labor to fill the gap left by local workers due to the ongoing war with Ukraine. The BBC reports that these North Koreans, more than 50,000 in number, are subjected to brutal work environments as their productivity becomes essential for Moscow's wartime efforts.
Interviews conducted with six escapees illuminate the harsh realities they face, including exhausting workdays lasting upwards of 18 hours with minimal days off. Overseen by North Korean security agents, workers live in squalid conditions, often sleeping in overcrowded shipping containers infested with pests. Despite the dangers associated with construction work, including severe injuries and the absence of medical care, the regime continues to tighten control over these laborers.
Experts indicate that the influx of North Koreans into Russia, which has recently surged, is not only to sustain labor needs but also to generate critical revenue for the cash-strapped regime of Kim Jong Un. This situation has been exacerbated by UN sanctions prohibiting the deployment of North Korean workers abroad.
The stories of escaping workers highlight a desperate yearning for freedom, with many realizing too late the punishing realities of their assignments compared to better-paying options available elsewhere in the region. Efforts to flee are now met with stricter controls from North Korean authorities, who increase monitoring and limit opportunities for laborers to leave their work sites.
Activists warn that as the war persists, North Korean laborers in Russia are likely to face even greater difficulty, with the complicity of both the Kremlin and Pyongyang ensuring that this cycle of exploitation continues. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, the situation of these workers remains a poignant reminder of the human costs involved.
