The Communist regime of North Korea is sending citizens to China as guest workers in an attempt to raise money for the cash-strapped nation. As one of its only remaining trading partners, China has approved industrial training visas for around 40 000 North Korean workers. With UN sanctions limiting DPRK trade and preventing export of weapons, the guest workers undertake jobs as seamstresses, mechanics, construction workers and miners, but very likely see less than $50 of their $200 to $300 per month salaries, most of which are directly siphoned into the pockets of the North Korean government. Yet with North Korean monthly wages at less than $10, the workers may still be faring better than their counterparts back home. According to Sohn Kyang-ju, head of the Seoul-based NK Daily Unification Strategy Institute and a former South Korean intelligence official: “The North Koreans can’t export weapons anymore because of [international] sanctions, so they are using their people to raise cash.” Senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification Park Hyeong-jung said: “the North Korean economy is practically bankrupt. In order to expand employment, they need to reform, but the leadership is unwilling. So they look overseas to earn money.” John Park, an academic who has written extensively on North Korean-Chinese relations said: “It will allow the North Koreans to piggyback on China’s economic success to jump-start the economy under the new leadership.” But with no labour shortages in the northeastern provinces, the move to issue visas for unskilled and semi-skilled workers is unprecedented and controversial. Both Beijing and Pyongyang have remained tight-lipped and have not publicly announced the deal. The first North Korean workers arrived in Tumen a few months ago, with more reported to be arriving in other border cities and towns including Dandong and Hunchun. NK Daily reporter Kim So-yeol said the North Korean government selects “mostly people who are very loyal, with relatives in the Workers’ Party,” who must be married. Kim believes as many as 120 000 workers will arrive this year. North Korea has previously outsourced workers to Russia, Libya, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia and Angola, but hundreds of young North Korean women working in garment and shoe factories in the Czech Republic had contracts cancelled following European human rights activists concerns of virtual slave labor. According to Park, Chinese employers stand to benefit from the deal: “There are no better employees than North Koreans: They are obedient, efficient and cheap.” However many Chinese are likely to be less enamoured with the arrangement. According to Zhang Lianggui, a North Korea expert at the Central Party School in Beijing, the North Koreans “will be competing directly with local youths for job opportunities.” According to a UN report last month, two-thirds of the DPRK’s population is facing chronic food shortages and the country remains in a tenuous financial situation. With the death last year of the longstanding leader Kim Jong Il, and the succession of his son Kim Jong Un, imminent change is unlikely. It remains to be seen what effect the DPRK’s money making strategy will have.

The Communist regime of North Korea is sending citizens to China as guest workers in an attempt to raise money for the cash-strapped nation. As one of its only remaining trading partners, China has approved industrial training visas for around 40 000 North Korean workers. With UN sanctions limiting DPRK trade and preventing export of weapons, the guest workers undertake jobs as seamstresses, mechanics, construction workers and miners, but very likely see less than $50 of their $200 to $300 per month salaries, most of which are directly siphoned into the pockets of the North Korean government. Yet with North Korean monthly wages at less than $10, the workers may still be faring better than their counterparts back home. According to Sohn Kyang-ju, head of the Seoul-based NK Daily Unification Strategy Institute and a former South Korean intelligence official: “The North Koreans can’t export weapons anymore because of [international] sanctions, so they are using their people to raise cash.” Senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification Park Hyeong-jung said: “the North Korean economy is practically bankrupt. In order to expand employment, they need to reform, but the leadership is unwilling. So they look overseas to earn money.” John Park, an academic who has written extensively on North Korean-Chinese relations said: “It will allow the North Koreans to piggyback on China’s economic success to jump-start the economy under the new leadership.” But with no labour shortages in the northeastern provinces, the move to issue visas for unskilled and semi-skilled workers is unprecedented and controversial. Both Beijing and Pyongyang have remained tight-lipped and have not publicly announced the deal. The first North Korean workers arrived in Tumen a few months ago, with more reported to be arriving in other border cities and towns including Dandong and Hunchun. NK Daily reporter Kim So-yeol said the North Korean government selects “mostly people who are very loyal, with relatives in the Workers’ Party,” who must be married. Kim believes as many as 120 000 workers will arrive this year. North Korea has previously outsourced workers to Russia, Libya, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia and Angola, but hundreds of young North Korean women working in garment and shoe factories in the Czech Republic had contracts cancelled following European human rights activists concerns of virtual slave labor. According to Park, Chinese employers stand to benefit from the deal: “There are no better employees than North Koreans: They are obedient, efficient and cheap.” However many Chinese are likely to be less enamoured with the arrangement. According to Zhang Lianggui, a North Korea expert at the Central Party School in Beijing, the North Koreans “will be competing directly with local youths for job opportunities.” According to a UN report last month, two-thirds of the DPRK’s population is facing chronic food shortages and the country remains in a tenuous financial situation. With the death last year of the longstanding leader Kim Jong Il, and the succession of his son Kim Jong Un, imminent change is unlikely. It remains to be seen what effect the DPRK’s money making strategy will have.