Key facts
- North Korea has sent an estimated 35,600-101,280 workers abroad, primarily to China and Russia.
- Some North Korean workers in Russia are allegedly involved in manufacturing military drones.
- The UN Security Council resolution 2397 mandated the repatriation of North Korean workers by the end of 2019.
- North Korean workers overseas generated an estimated $450 million to $800 million in 2025.
- North Korea confiscates 80-90% of its overseas workers' earnings.
- The MSMT urged the UN Security Council to reestablish the Panel of Experts.
North Korea has deployed an estimated 100,000 workers abroad, primarily to China and Russia, with some allegedly participating in the manufacturing of military drones at Russian factories, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT). This activity is in violation of United Nations sanctions, which require member states to repatriate North Korean nationals earning income by the end of 2019.
The MSMT, established in October 2024, comprises representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Britain, and the United States. The report indicates that between 35,600 and 101,280 North Korean workers remain deployed overseas, with the vast majority in China and Russia.
Russia is estimated to host between 15,000 and 30,000 North Korean workers, some of whom are reportedly involved in drone production. The report also notes that the Russian government has allegedly used a student visa scheme to disguise these workers. Each worker in Russia generates an estimated average of $7,500 annually, with potential monthly wages significantly higher than those in China.
China is estimated to host between 20,000 and 70,000 North Korean workers. Despite temporary repatriations between 2023 and 2025, approximately 10,000 new workers arrived in China between January 2025 and January 2026.
The MSMT estimates that these overseas workers generated between $450 million and $800 million in 2025. The report states that nearly all of these earnings are confiscated by the North Korean regime, with 80-90% taken by Pyongyang, sometimes leaving workers indebted. North Korean authorities reportedly maintain strict control over workers to prevent defections and may retaliate against family members remaining in the country.
The MSMT urged UN member states to hold accountable parties facilitating UN Security Council resolution violations and called on the UN Security Council to reestablish the Panel of Experts.