The Hidden Human Cost of Kim Jong-un’s New Power

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   North Korea Deploys Overseas Workers to Fund Nuclear Program and Russian Drone Production

   North Korea has sent up to 100,000 workers abroad to generate approximately $800 million for the state, often using fake student visas to bypass restrictions. A significant portion of this labor force supports Russia, with reports indicating up to 25,000 North Koreans are currently building drones for the war in Ukraine. These workers operate under fake visas and have reportedly come under fire during strikes on factories described as the Russian Amazon. The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team is actively tracking these labor programs as a means to finance nuclear weapons.

   Why it matters

   The regime uses forced labor from coal miners to diplomats to maintain power and fund military expansion. By exporting labor, Kim Jong-un secures hard currency while bypassing international sanctions. The partnership with Russia marks a shift toward direct support of foreign military production.

   What is confirmed

   • North Korea has sent up to 100,000 workers abroad.
   • The state pockets $800 million from its overseas labor program.
   • Many North Korean workers use fake student visas to work abroad.
   • Russia employs North Koreans to manufacture drones for the war in Ukraine.
   • Up to 25,000 North Koreans are involved in Russian drone production.

   Still unconfirmed

   • North Korean workers have been targeted in strikes on Russian Amazon factories.
   • The overseas labor program is used specifically to finance nuclear weapons.

   What to watch next

   • Further reports from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team on DPRK labor violations.
   • Evidence of additional North Korean military-industrial cooperation with Russia.
   Sources used for this update (12)

   1. The New York Times — The Hidden Human Cost of Kim Jong-un’s New Power
   2. Bloomberg.com — Russia Taps North Korean Workers to Make Drones Under Fake Visas
   3. 조선일보 — N. Korea Sends Up to 100,000 Workers Abroad, Pocketing $800M—Many on Fake Student Visas
   4. ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — North Korea accused of using overseas workers finance nuclear weapons
   5. scmp.com — Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war: report
   6. Yonhap News Agency — Up to 100,000 N.K. workers sent abroad, some involved in Russian drone production: report
   7. globalrightscompliance.org — GRCs Research Cited in Newly Released Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team’s Report
   8. Українська правда — Up to 25,000 North Koreans work in Russian drone production
   9. Kyiv Post — Russia Employs 25,000 North Koreans in Drone Production for Use in Its War Against Ukraine
   10. Yahoo — North Koreans under fire in strikes on ‘Russian Amazon’ factories
   11. Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale — Joint statement of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) on the report covering die DPRK’s overseas labour program
   12. www.japantimes.co.jp — The hidden human cost of Kim Jong Un’s newfound power
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