North Korea is intensifying its labor and military deployments to Russia despite mounting allegations of forced labor and violations of international sanctions. Reports indicate that thousands of North Korean civilians and soldiers are being sent to Russian territories under conditions described by defectors and human rights groups as “slave-like,” with workers subjected to long hours, constant surveillance, and receiving only a small fraction of their earnings.
In 2024, more than 13,000 North Koreans entered Russia, a sharp increase compared to the previous year. Many reportedly traveled on student visas, a tactic believed to bypass United Nations sanctions that ban North Korean overseas labor. Once in Russia, these workers are largely employed in construction and manufacturing, with about 90 percent of their wages sent back to the Pyongyang regime.
Recent announcements by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reveal that North Korea plans to send 1,000 military deminers and 5,000 construction workers to the Kursk region for post-conflict reconstruction. This comes alongside reports that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have already been deployed to support Russian military operations in Ukraine.
A separate cybersecurity investigation uncovered a state-run network of North Korean IT professionals operating overseas, many in Russia and China, who use stolen or fake identities to secure contracts. These activities reportedly generate between $250 million and $600 million annually for Pyongyang.
The growing labor and military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is raising alarms among global human rights organizations and Western governments. Critics argue that these deployments not only violate UN resolutions but also deepen a strategic partnership that bolsters both nations’ resistance to international sanctions.
Observers warn that without stronger enforcement of sanctions and increased monitoring of labor flows, North Korea’s exploitation of its citizens abroad will continue to expand, fueling both its economy and its military ambitions.