lecture, whistleblower, russia, overseas labor, overseas workers
North Korean workers in Russia. (Courtesy of Kang Dong Wan)

North Korea sent hundreds of new workers to regions throughout Russia from late March to early April, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Vladivostok, a reporting partner in North Korea told Daily NK on Friday. 

About 350 workers went to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, while less than 100 went to Vladivostok.

Up to now, North Korean authorities had sent more workers to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, which is relatively closer than places in Russia’s northwest such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg. 

The types of transport used to move the workers differed depending on the region they were sent. The workers sent to Moscow or Saint Petersburg went by airplane, while workers sent to Vladivostok arrived by train.

Workers who were sent to Vladivostok are serving military personnel with military-affiliated trading companies. They signed contracts with Russian construction companies and work exclusively at their contracted construction sites.

Meanwhile, workers sent to Moscow and Saint Petersburg are largely civilians and will work with trading companies that are commissioned with Russia-based work. It remains unclear exactly what kind of work they will do; however, the reporting partner suggested that they will be involved in construction and other sub-contracted work. 

“The workers with the military-affiliated trading companies must send RUB 45,000 a month to the North Korean authorities as party funds, while the civilian workers will need to send back RUB 70,000,” the reporting partner said. As of May 3, RUB 100 equalled USD 1.25.  

The newly dispatched workers to Russia officially entered the country not as workers, but on other types of visas for study, training, tourism or cultural exchanges, he explained, adding that “we are sending new workers because the Russian government is accepting them.”

In short, the reporting partner suggested that large numbers of North Koreans could enter Russia because an agreement has been made between the Russian and North Korean governments. 

EXISTING WORKERS SENT BACK TO NORTH KOREA

Meanwhile, North Korean workers who had been in Russia for over three years have been repatriated back to North Korea. 

Daily NK reported in early April that North Korea ordered the repatriation of workers who were in such poor health that they could no longer work.

North Korea and Russia are growing closer amid tensions with the US and other Western nations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il issued a statement on Apr. 25 that highlighted solidarity between North Korea and Russia, mentioning the first summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin four years ago.

The statement said: “Today, following the long tradition of shoulder-to-shoulder struggle against the common enemy, the two countries are strengthening mutual support and solidarity in the struggle to resolutely smash the dangers of war and military threats from the outside; to safeguard the country’s security, dignity and peace; and to realize international justice.”

The statement suggests that Russia and North Korea believe that the formation of an anti-Russia coalition by several nations, including the US, along with the international sanctions enacted in response to North Korean provocations, are acts of a common enemy, and signals that Russia and North Korea will strengthen cooperation. 

Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler. 

Daily NK works with a network of reporting partners who live inside North Korea and China. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.  

Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

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