Kateryna Ganzha09:40, 21.10.26

According to researchers, the DPRK government openly sends its citizens to forced labor and appropriates a significant portion of their earnings.

North Korea has sent 12,000 workers to Russia to assemble Shahed attack drones in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, according to a joint report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the George W. Bush Institute.

According to the report’s authors, North Korean workers earn $2.50 per hour, with Pyongyang taking 70% to 90% of their earnings.

In addition to North Korean citizens, Russians, mainly young students, and foreigners from other countries work in the production. The authors of the report distinguish three main groups of workers: Russian youth, foreigners, and North Korean citizens.

The report says that Russian authorities may resort to coercive practices against the first two groups. At the same time, according to the researchers, the DPRK government openly sends its citizens to forced labor and appropriates a significant portion of their earnings.

Alabuga College recruits Russian youth to work in production under the guise of “industrial internships.” Students reportedly work shifts of up to 12 hours, and their salaries depend on meeting strict production quotas.

Additionally, young workers are reportedly threatened with fines for disclosing information about the products manufactured at the plant, even if they tell their families, raising further concerns about working conditions and possible pressure on workers.

(C)UNIAN 2026