Russia plans to “import” around 12,000 North Korean workers to staff enterprises in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, where long-range Shaded/Geran drones are produced. This was reported by Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the intelligence service, at the end of October, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a meeting between local officials and representatives of the North Korean company Jihyang Technology Trade Company, which is responsible for recruiting and selecting workers.
The imported workforce is being offered roughly 2.5 US dollars per hour, with work shifts lasting at least 12 hours.
HUR notes that these plans indicate further deepening of cooperation between Russia and North Korea in support of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.