There have been suspicions that North Korea is pushing to expand the illegal dispatch of its workers to Russia to earn hard currency, as Moscow is believed to be suffering labor shortages due to the mobilization of young people for its war in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, North Korea's state media reported that a Russian delegation, led by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Russian far eastern region of Primorsky Krai that borders North Korea, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. In November, North Korea and Russia signed a bilateral protocol on expanding cooperation on the economy, science and technology, just four weeks after the visit to Pyongyang by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Not only does Russia’s cozy relationship with North Korea signal its NeoSoviet character but it also demonstrates its traditional top down economic thinking. When there is a labor shortage in North Dakota, our citizens will migrate there seeking good paying jobs. The government does not need to get involved. Much of the labor force in the temporarily occupied Donbas is from Russia’s extreme far east. They work on roads, bridges, and in constructing military facilities. They did not migrate to the war torn region on their own volition.