North Korea’s state-run Korean Central Television reported on Sept. 8 that an inauguration ceremony for the Tumen River road bridge, named after Soviet Red Army officer Yakov Novichenko, linking North Korea’s Rason with Russia’s Khasan, was held on Sept. 7. (KCTV-Yonhap)
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central Television reported on Sept. 8 that an inauguration ceremony for the Tumen River road bridge, named after Soviet Red Army officer Yakov Novichenko, linking North Korea’s Rason with Russia’s Khasan, was held on Sept. 7. (KCTV-Yonhap)

Sanctions workaround: North Korea had an estimated 35,600–101,280 workers in at least 17 countries in 2025, generating roughly $450 million–$800 million despite UN restrictions on overseas labor.

China leads hosting: China was estimated to host 20,000–70,000 North Korean workers, concentrated in border provinces and industries including garments, fisheries, electronics and IT.

Russia expands role: Russia hosted about 15,000–30,000 workers by the end of 2025, with deployments spanning construction, agriculture, manufacturing and reportedly military-related facilities.

Visa loopholes: The report says workers are often admitted through student, training or technical-exchange programs; more than 98 percent of Russian visas issued to North Koreans in 2025 were reportedly student visas.

Wages heavily seized: North Korean authorities allegedly confiscate 80–90% of overseas workers’ earnings, sometimes imposing payments exceeding actual wages and leaving workers indebted.

Military funding link: The 11-nation monitoring group says labor revenue helps finance North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programs, with trading firms using proceeds to procure military supplies and other goods.

Monitoring pressure grows: The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, formed after Russia ended the UN expert panel’s mandate in 2024, urged countries to act against facilitators and called for restoration of UN-level sanctions monitoring.


mkjung@heraldcorp.com