A Russian region in Siberia plans to employ thousands of North Korean workers for multiple construction projects, a regional official announced Thursday, citing ongoing labor shortages amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Alexei Kolmakov, head of the Novosibirsk Oblast construction ministry, said at a press conference that the regional construction industry is experiencing labor shortages estimated at 4,500-5,000 workers, which the region will partially address with DPRK workers in the near future.