A Russian businessman behind the construction of a joint factory with North Korea has actively promoted the procurement of DPRK workers to fill labor shortages, an NK News investigation has found, shining a light on illicit labor imports and positioning himself as a key figure in related schemes.

Vladimir Sokolov is the head of the Black Horse industrial equipment company, which NK News previously reported is building a plastics factory in Vladivostok as part of a joint venture with a North Korean firm.

Now, NK Newsanalysis of photos and footage posted on his social media over the past two