“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years.

Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing [email protected] and including their first name and city of residence.

Today’s question is: What was it like working in Russia as an overseas laborer?

Jin Ju-dong — who was born and raised in North Korea and defected during the pandemic — recalls being sent to Russia to earn money for the regime and his day-to-day life on a construction site.

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