On September 22, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) released its new report, Transnational Repression and Exploitation of North Korean Workers in Russia, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Seoul.
At the launch seminar, Ambassador Peter van der Vliet emphasized that the plight of North Korean workers abroad is not merely an economic concern but a profound security and human rights issue. He highlighted that an estimated 15,000 North Koreans remain trapped in harsh and exploitative conditions in Russia.
The report, authored by NKDB Research Analyst Unique Kim, was presented alongside the testimony of Mr. Lee, a former North Korean soldier who was forced to work on Russian construction sites before his escape. The findings reveal how North Korea’s labor export system has evolved into a mechanism of transnational repression, perpetuating exploitation under the guise of sanctions evasion.
NKDB extends its gratitude to the distinguished panelists — James Heenan from the UN OHCHR Seoul Office, Anton Sokolin from Korea Risk Group, and Kwangbaek Lee from the Unification Media Group — for sharing their valuable insights during the discussion.
On September 22, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) released its new report, Transnational Repression and Exploitation of North Korean Workers in Russia, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Seoul.
At the launch seminar, Ambassador Peter van der Vliet emphasized that the plight of North Korean workers abroad is not merely an economic concern but a profound security and human rights issue. He highlighted that an estimated 15,000 North Koreans remain trapped in harsh and exploitative conditions in Russia.
The report, authored by NKDB Research Analyst Unique Kim, was presented alongside the testimony of Mr. Lee, a former North Korean soldier who was forced to work on Russian construction sites before his escape. The findings reveal how North Korea’s labor export system has evolved into a mechanism of transnational repression, perpetuating exploitation under the guise of sanctions evasion.
NKDB extends its gratitude to the distinguished panelists — James Heenan from the UN OHCHR Seoul Office, Anton Sokolin from Korea Risk Group, and Kwangbaek Lee from the Unification Media Group — for sharing their valuable insights during the discussion.