Horrific Conditions: North Korean Laborers Face Modern Slavery in Russia

As the labor crisis in Russia intensifies due to the Ukraine war, over 50,000 North Koreans face "slave-like" conditions in construction and other sectors. Reports reveal harrowing details of their daily lives, highlighting strict control measures and severe mistreatment.

Thousands of North Koreans are reportedly subjected to horrendous working conditions in Russia, where they are coerced into laboring under conditions reminiscent of slavery. The BBC has reported that the ongoing labor shortages precipitated by the Ukraine war have led Russia to increasingly rely on North Korean workers to fill the gaps, as many Russian men are either engaged in combat or have fled the country.

According to interviews with six North Koreans who managed to flee Russia, the workers are forced to endure "abysmal" conditions, monitored closely by North Korean agents to prevent escapes. One escapee, who identified himself as Jin, recounted arriving in Russia's Far East, where he was escorted from the airport directly to a construction site. There, a North Korean security agent enforced strict rules forbidding him from speaking to others or observing his surroundings, branding the outside world as "the enemy."

All interviewees described excruciating workdays that began at 6 a.m. and extended until 2 a.m. the following day, with only two days off annually. Tae, another worker who escaped, shared his daily struggle with fatigue so debilitating that his hands would seize up from exhaustion. The unsafe working conditions are exacerbated by inadequate safety equipment and supervision, often resulting in serious injuries and lack of medical attention.

Professor Kang Dong-wan from South Korea's Dong-A University has investigated the plight of these laborers, affirming that many of the workers are forced to sleep in filthy, overcrowded shipping containers devoid of basic comforts. This shocking treatment is compounded by the reality that North Korean authorities are tightening control over these workers, who now face stricter monitoring and reduced freedom.

Although a UN ban on utilizing North Korean workers was enacted in 2019, recent intelligence suggests that Russia is once again employing these laborers to address a significant labor shortage, with over 10,000 arriving last year and estimates indicating that potentially 50,000 more will be dispatched soon. Reported figures show a twelve-fold increase in the number of North Koreans entering Russia since 2023, raising alarm about the exploitation of workers contrary to international agreements.

A senior Russian official has publicly acknowledged plans to employ North Koreans in rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the war, further demonstrating Russia's willingness to exploit cheap labor. The plight of North Korean laborers in Russia focuses attention on a troubling era of labor exploitation, which some experts warn could outlast the current war.

Despite some workers finding ways to escape using foreign smartphones and risky arrangements, the North Korean regime has relocated towards more stringent control measures to stem the tide of dissent. Activist Kim Seung-chul noted a marked decline in successful escapes, while experts point to potential waves of new laborers arriving as a lasting testament to the intertwining of North Korea and Russia's wartime relationship.