North Koreans Put to Work in Russia

More than 50,000 North Koreans are being sent to Russia to work as Moscow faces a labor shortage tied to its war in Ukraine.

North Koreans Put to Work in Russia Under Slave Conditions

BBC findings show thousands of North Koreans are being sent to Russia to work in slave-like conditions as Moscow faces a labor shortage linked to its invasion of Ukraine. South Korean intelligence officials say Russia is increasingly relying on North Korean laborers. The BBC spoke to six North Korean workers who fled Russia since the war began, along with government officials, researchers and aid workers. The workers described abysmal conditions and tighter control by North Korea to prevent escapes.

One worker, Jin, said a North Korean security agent met him on arrival in Russia's Far East, ordered him not to talk to anyone or look at anything, and put him straight to work building tall apartment blocks for more than 18 hours a day, with just two days off a year.

The BBC report sheds light on how warfare reshapes labor markets. When a country fights a prolonged war, it can push other states to supply workers and then tightly manage them. North Korea uses these arrangements to gain leverage over Moscow while earning hard currency. The piece also raises urgent questions for policymakers about migrant protections and accountability. If verified, the conditions could trigger international criticism and complicate alliances already strained by sanctions and strategic rivalries.

This investigation points to a broader issue: how global supply chains and security concerns intersect with human rights. It asks whether protections for migrant workers keep pace with political and military needs, and what accountability looks like when workers are exposed to coercive conditions across borders.

Highlights

The human cost of urgent labour demands deserves ongoing scrutiny.