North Korean Workers Face Slave-Like Conditions in Russia
Forced Labor Amid Russia's War Efforts
Thousands of North Koreans are being sent to Russia under brutal working conditions to address severe labor shortages caused by Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The BBC has uncovered that these workers endure near-slavery, with strict surveillance, grueling hours, and withheld wages.
Harsh Working Conditions
Interviews with six escaped workers reveal horrific treatment. Laborers work up to 18-hour days constructing high-rises, with only two days off per year. One worker, Jin, described being immediately escorted from the airport to a construction site by a North Korean agent who warned him against interacting with outsiders. Workers sleep in bug-infested shipping containers or unfinished buildings, with little safety equipment. Injuries are ignored, one laborer, Nam, was denied hospital treatment after a four-meter fall left him severely injured.
Strict Control and Exploitation
North Korean authorities tightly monitor workers to prevent escapes. Most earnings are seized by the state as "loyalty fees," with workers receiving only $100-$200 monthly, paid only upon returning home. This system ensures compliance, as defectors risk losing everything.
Russia’s Growing Dependence
With over 13,000 North Koreans entering Russia in 2024, a 12-fold increase, Moscow is exploiting this cheap labor force despite UN sanctions banning such arrangements. Many enter on student visas, a loophole to bypass restrictions. South Korean intelligence warns that up to 50,000 more workers may arrive, some possibly deployed in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Failed Dreams and Rare Escapes
Workers initially hope to escape poverty but soon realize their exploitation. One laborer, Tae, fled after learning Central Asian workers earned five times more for less work. Escape is increasingly difficult, North Korea has intensified ideological training, restricted outings, and enforced group surveillance. As a result, successful defections to South Korea have dropped by half since 2022.
A Long-Term Crisis
Experts warn this forced labor system will outlast the war, becoming a lasting consequence of the Russia-North Korea alliance. With no end in sight, thousands remain trapped in what one worker called "a prison without bars."
