North Korea sends thousands to work in Russia, says South Korean intel

North Korea sent thousands of workers to Russia last year, violating a UN Security Council resolution, Yonhap reports.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service notes that North Korea sent thousands of workers to various construction sites across Russia due to a labor shortage caused by Russia's war against Ukraine.

According to UN Security Council resolutions in response to North Korea's weapon tests, Pyongyang was banned from sending its citizens to work abroad. All North Korean workers were supposed to return by December 2019.

It is noted that North Korea and Russia are suspected of using student visas to send North Korean workers.

As reported by Radio Free Asia, 13,221 North Korean citizens entered Russia last year, nearly twelve times more than in 2023. Among those who entered Russia last year, 7,887 claimed to have come for educational purposes.

North Korea's involvement in the war against Ukraine
Last year, North Korea sent thousands of soldiers to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intelligence, this number is approximately 12,000 soldiers.

North Korean forces have been involved in battles in the Kursk region. Due to losses, North Korean forces were withdrawn. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians have once again brought in North Korean troops for assaults in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that North Korea lost about 4,000 soldiers in the Kursk region.

Additionally, according to NHK, North Korea is receiving technical assistance from Russia to develop several types of drones for mass production.