Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war |
| Russia is employing North Korean workers to manufacture military drones, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. The strategy provides North Korea with vital revenue for its weapons programmes in the face of international sanctions. An estimated 25,000 North Koreans are involved in Russia's drone industry, each earning around $7,500 annually, although much of this is seized by the Kim regime. Monthly wages earned by North Koreans working in Russia may be up to five times higher than what they can earn in China. Russia had an estimated 15,000-30,000 North Korean workers as of the end of 2025. "Despite the 2019 repatriation deadline mandated by [a UN Security Council resolution], at least 17 countries are suspected of continuing to host labourers, generating between $450m and $800m in 2025 to fund the [North Korea's] unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes," the report said. |
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