Archive · 17 Sep 2026
North Korean Workers Build Russian Drones Under Student Visas
A new report says many North Korean workers are helping make military drones in Russia.
These drones are used in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The workers may enter Russia using student visas to get around sanctions.
Up to 25,000 North Koreans are believed to work in Russia’s drone industry.
North Korea’s government reportedly takes most of their pay.
The money could help pay for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
Russia gets workers for industries supporting its war effort.
The report says the workers are closely controlled and may face danger if they try to escape.
A sanctions-monitoring report says up to 25,000 North Koreans work in Russia’s drone industry.
Workers reportedly assemble unmanned aerial vehicles at facilities including Alabuga in Tatarstan.
The report says North Korean laborers earned up to $800 million for Pyongyang last year.
Many workers allegedly enter Russia disguised as students and surrender most of their wages to North Korean authorities.
The United States, South Korea, Japan and other partners say the labor arrangement helps fund North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
- Who
- North Korean workers, the Russian government and North Korean authorities are central to the report; the findings were issued by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team.
- What
- The report alleges that North Korean workers are being used to assemble military drones and other industrial products in Russia while sanctions are evaded.
- When
- The report was released Wednesday; its labor estimates include figures for the end of 2025 and earnings from the previous year.
- Where
- The reported work is taking place in Russia, including at drone facilities in Alabuga, Tatarstan.
- Why
- Russia gains workers for industries supporting its war in Ukraine, while North Korea receives foreign currency that can help fund its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs.
Sanctions-monitoring assessment
Reported interests of Russia and North Korea
Purpose of the labor arrangement
Sanctions-monitoring assessment
The monitoring team says the arrangement violates or evades international sanctions and generates money for North Korea’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic-missile programs.
Reported interests of Russia and North Korea
The report describes Russia as gaining a labor pool for industries supporting its war in Ukraine, while North Korea gains foreign currency; the article does not include official responses from either government.
Workers’ conditions
Sanctions-monitoring assessment
The report says workers are tightly controlled, most of their wages are confiscated, and defectors risk reprisals against relatives in North Korea.
Reported interests of Russia and North Korea
The article provides no alternative account from Russia or North Korea about the workers’ treatment or compensation.
- Reported Russian drone workers
- Up to 25,000 North Koreans
- Reported Russian labor force
- An estimated 15,000 to 30,000 North Korean laborers at the end of 2025
- Reported overseas earnings
- Up to $800 million for North Korea’s regime last year
- Average annual wage
- About $7,500 per North Korean worker in Russia
- Reported visa method
- Workers are allegedly disguised as students
- Monitoring group
- An 11-nation team including the United States, South Korea and Japan
- Reported worker controls
- North Korean authorities tightly restrict movement and contact with outsiders