Rodong Sinmun reported on Sept. 4 that North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un attended commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (Victory Day), and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day (Sept 3). (Rodong Sinmun·News1)
Russia is tightening restrictions on Central Asian migrant workers while opening doors to more North Korean laborers, according to multiple sources in the country.
“The Russian central government has ordered authorities in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ussuriysk to admit fewer migrant workers from Central Asia and more from North Korea,” a source in Russia told Daily NK recently.
Since Sept. 10, large numbers of workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been boarding flights home from Moscow airport due to visa issues, another Russian source said. The airport’s atmosphere has shifted dramatically—gone are the hundreds of Central Asian workers once lined up at immigration.
Russian authorities began cracking down after several terrorist attacks linked to Central Asian nationals made headlines. Workers from these countries now face routine entry denials, creating a significant labor shortage.
Labor market realignment
With Central Asian workers rapidly disappearing from the Russian workforce, Moscow is scrambling to fill the gap by diversifying its labor sources. North Korea and Pakistan have emerged as the two leading candidates.
“The central government is seriously thinking about bringing in Pakistanis as substitute workers. Plans are also in motion to let in more North Korean workers,” a source in Russia said.
The government isn’t just considering these options—it’s actively negotiating with both countries. This marks a sharp reversal from previous policy. Russia once repatriated North Korean workers to comply with international sanctions, but resumed accepting them after the pandemic ended in 2023.
Recent months have seen growing Russian interest in North Korean workers, particularly for reconstructing occupied Ukrainian territories.
“In a certain sense, the central government is rewarding North Korean support in the war by hiring more of its workers. North Korea is seeking material gain in the form of these workers’ wages,” the source explained.
The timing isn’t coincidental. “The moves to limit immigration by Central Asia workers and to give North Korean and Pakistani workers more jobs are happening simultaneously. North Korean workers’ share of the Russian labor market will clearly increase,” another source in Russia said.
Despite internal concerns about potential sanctions violations, the prevailing view in Moscow prioritizes filling the labor vacuum over international compliance.
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