A report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) has shed light on the growing role of North Korean labourers in supporting Russia’s defence industrial base, including the production of military drones used in the war in Ukraine.
The report, The DPRK’s Use of Overseas Labour to Violate and Evade UN Sanctions, alleges that thousands of North Korean workers are employed across Russia in sectors ranging from construction and manufacturing to defence production, generating significant revenue for the North Korean government while helping Russia address wartime labour shortages. According to the report, North Korean labourers are actively involved in the manufacture of military drones at facilities in locations such as Alabuga, Tatarstan, a key hub for Russia’s expanding Geran-2 one-way attack drone production.
