Russia begins deporting North Korean laborers.
Some regions in Russia have begun deporting North Korean workers back to their country in accordance with UN Security Council sanctions resolutions.
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| North Korean laborers. Photo: NK News |
“The ban on North Korean laborers will affect the Russian economy, but we respect and fully implement the decisions of the UN Security Council. Many governors have already begun deporting North Koreans to expedite the implementation of the resolution,” Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told Russian journalists in New York, referring to the UN Security Council resolutions sanctioning Pyongyang.
According to Ambassador Matsegora, this expulsion will have a serious impact on the Russian economy, especially in the Far East – where approximately 12,000 North Korean workers are employed. However, for those North Koreans who do not wish to return home, Russian authorities will not use force to deport them. Matsegora also denied reports that North Korean laborers in Russia live in harsh conditions.
"We do not want to force anyone to return to North Korea by force. We would never do that," the Russian ambassador asserted.
Ambassador Matsegora stated that Russia grants 15,000 visas to North Korean citizens annually, 90% of which are short-term work visas. He estimated that there are currently around 35,000 North Korean workers employed in Russia, primarily in the construction, agriculture, and fishing industries.
According to Ambassador Matsegora, North Korean laborers receive wages equal to those of Russian workers, and one person's salary can support "13 family members." Furthermore, Matsegora revealed that North Korean citizens often have to send half of their earned wages back home.
The United Nations estimates that there are approximately 100,000 North Korean workers abroad, and this workforce sends back around $500 million annually. A US State Department report indicates that the North Korean government collects 70-90% of the monthly income (approximately $300-$1,000) earned by these workers overseas. The two countries with the largest number of North Korean citizens currently working abroad are Russia and China.
