'Why Go to China When Russia Pays Double?': Why North Korean Overseas Workers Are Getting Pickier

Hello, this is Kim Ayeong from the SBS Foreign Affairs and Security Team. Today, I brought a story about North Korea sending workers overseas.
  Women dressed in matching red outfits and jackets disembark from a plane in line. Elsewhere, a group of several women is gathered together. They carry backpacks while standing next to large black duffel bags commonly known as "immigration bags." These scenes were disclosed through the Russian media outlet Ostorozhno Novosti and the social media accounts of Ukrainian officials.


The outlet reported that North Korean female workers are being sent across Russia through employment agencies, working in assembly lines, food manufacturing, and garment production. They reportedly operate in groups of 40. The unit rate offered by companies is said to start at a minimum of 480 rubles per hour, or about 8,000 South Korean won. Scenes showing North Korean women traveling to Russia or apparently working there are frequently spotted these days. Footage was also captured showing North Korean women appearing to report to work at a logistics warehouse for a major e-commerce company, often dubbed the Russian version of Coupang.

    They are not working solely in private sectors. In December last year, we reported that a drone factory in Tatarstan, located about 900 kilometers east of Moscow, was recruiting North Korean female workers and that they were actually working there. Of course, it is not as if North Korean workers were completely absent from Russia and are only starting to go now. However, the sharp increase in North Korean female workers in Russia is a distinct shift from the past and is worth paying attention to.
 
While China and Russia previously imported labor in non-overlapping sectors, the situation has now changed. Assessments suggest that their relationship has shifted from complementary to one of competing for North Korean labor. So, which destination do North Korean workers prefer? Recently, a trend showing a preference for Russia over China has emerged. The reason is, unsurprisingly, money.
 
A business person dealing with North Korea in China shared that while North Korea used to send workers immediately upon request from China in the past, workers now sometimes refuse to go when told to head to China. According to this business person, the monthly salary for a North Korean worker in Russia is around $1,200, whereas in China it is $300 to $500 at most. Even after accounting for mandatory contributions paid to North Korean authorities, the absolute wage gap remains substantial.
  Whether in China or Russia, the work quality of North Korean labor is generally evaluated favorably. Labor costs remain relatively cheap compared to local workers, while working hours tend to be long. Additionally, because they live and move in groups, employers find them easy to manage. As North Korean female labor gains popularity in Russia, the demands and attitudes of North Korean workers are also changing significantly compared to the past.


Reports indicate that North Korean workers dispatched to livestock facilities in Russia have demanded nutritional supplements when engaging in hazardous tasks like manure management, and extra pay when working night shifts. Such changes are not limited to Russia; similar shifts are appearing in China as well.
 
Business owners in China explain that because workers are relatively reluctant to come to China, wages there are also rising gradually unlike before.
  Whether North Korean workers can maintain their leverage will depend on how long Russia's demand for them continues. For those wondering why Russia insists on bringing in North Korean labor, experts diagnose that Russia's domestic labor situation is severely strained.
 
Ending the war between Russia and Ukraine will not immediately solve this labor shortage. Instead, additional demand will arise once the war ends, as areas devastated by combat will need to be rebuilt through post-war reconstruction.


As it happens, large-scale construction projects are among the areas in which North Korea excels. That is why discussions are emerging about the potential deployment of experienced North Korean construction workers once post-war reconstruction gets underway in earnest. In that case, the proportion of male workers or soldiers with construction experience is likely to be much higher. While we have discussed North Korea's overseas labor dispatch, sending workers abroad is fundamentally prohibited under UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. However, both North Korea and Russia show little concern for these sanctions. Russia continues to need manpower, while North Korea needs sources of foreign currency. As the interests of both sides align, the flow of North Korean workers to Russia and the rivalry between China and Russia over labor are highly likely to continue for the time being.
 
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.