North Korea wants to send as many citizens as possible to study at Russian universities, the DPRK’s education minister reportedly said this week, amid concerns that such academic exchange is a ploy to send more workers to the country.

Kim Sung Du delivered the message while visiting Moscow for meetings with his Russian counterparts this week, according to Russia’s education ministry on Tuesday.

North Korea has submitted more than 100 applications for DPRK students to study at universities in Russia for the upcoming academic year, the ministry said, with more than 130 North Koreans already studying in the country.

Russia’s