North Korea plans to send about 500 workers to Svobodny, a city near Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome, next month, according to a Daily NK source in Russia.
“Currently, 30,000 housing units for spaceport technicians are under construction at Svobodny. New workers from North Korea are making their way there,” the source said Tuesday, speaking anonymously.
Svobodny is where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit last year.
“Around 10,000 workers from Uzbekistan and other members of the Commonwealth of Independence States are currently in Russia to help build housing for spaceport technicians,” the source said. “But the current workforce isn’t adequate to complete construction before the end of the year, so Russia wants to recruit North Korean workers as well.”
Russia is reportedly struggling to recruit workers domestically or abroad. The North Korean workers are believed to be from the External Construction Guidance Bureau.
During his visit last year, Kim reportedly discussed sending workers to help build facilities at Vostochny Cosmodrome. Shortly after, about 50 workers were sent to the city of Svobodny.
North Korean construction workers in Svobodny earn around 100,000 rubles ($1,570) monthly from Russian companies, similar to wages in other parts of Russia. However, after deductions, workers receive only 10,000 rubles ($160) monthly.
As North Korea-Russia ties improve, the number of North Korean workers in Russia is expected to increase significantly.
“At least 600 North Koreans were recently spotted at Vladivostok Airport. Stronger ties mean the number of North Korean workers in Russia will keep growing,” the source said.
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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