North Korean workers deployed to Russia face labor exploitation: Report



News North Korean workers deployed to Russia face labor exploitation: Report Researchers cite testimony of defectors who say they worked long hours and had to surrender wages to the state Jooheon Kim March 26, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean construction workers \| Image: NK News (Oct. 1, 2016) North Korean workers dispatched to Russia face exploitation on the job, forced to work long hours and surrender most of their wages to the state under conditions that constitute “modern-day slavery,” according to a Seoul-based human rights group. In a report published Wednesday, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) stated that the DPRK has dispatched soldiers disguised as students to various parts of Russia in recent years to carry out construction work and earn foreign currency for the regime’s weapons programs. NKHR raised concerns about the human rights abuses the workers face, citing the testimonies of DPRK military © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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North Korean workers deployed to Russia face labor exploitation: Report

Researchers cite testimony of defectors who say they worked long hours and had to surrender wages to the state

Jooheon Kim March 26, 2026

North Korean workers deployed to Russia face labor exploitation: Report

North Korean construction workers | Image: NK News (Oct. 1, 2016)

North Korean workers dispatched to Russia face exploitation on the job, forced to work long hours and surrender most of their wages to the state under conditions that constitute “modern-day slavery,” according to a Seoul-based human rights group.

In a report published Wednesday, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) stated that the DPRK has dispatched soldiers disguised as students to various parts of Russia in recent years to carry out construction work and earn foreign currency for the regime’s weapons programs.

NKHR raised concerns about the human rights abuses the workers face, citing the testimonies of DPRK military