North Korea sends about 15,000 labor migrants to Russia amid worker shortage

The Wall Street Journal reported the information, citing South Korean intelligence.  

According to Seoul’s data, North Korea has sent about 15,000 workers to Russia. It is believed that many of them entered Russian territory on student visas.  

The article emphasizes that in 2024, the number of North Koreans who went to Russia increased twelvefold compared to 2023.  

"Currently, they are largely concentrated in Russia’s Far East, but leaders and officials in Russian industry have expressed hope that more North Korean workers will soon be able to arrive in major cities, including Moscow," writes the WSJ.  

The UN Security Council prohibits the use of North Korean labor migrants abroad. However, Russian employers value North Korean workers for their willingness to accept low wages and work 12-hour days without complaints.  

At the same time, according to Russia’s Ministry of Labor, by 2030 the country’s labor shortage could reach 2.4 million, while current statistics show a shortage of 1.5 million.  

• On Monday, April 28, North Korea officially acknowledged that units of its armed forces participated "in the operation to liberate the Kursk region" on the orders of the head of state. Later, Russian dictator Putin thanked his North Korean counterpart for the assistance.