Russia Seeks 12,000 north โคKorean Workers for Drone โคManufacturing Amidst ukraine Conflict
Russia โis reportedly attempting to recruit 12,000 North Korean laborers to bolster its drone production capabilities as its war in Ukraine continues. This move comes as Moscow faces increasing challenges inโ maintaining its military supplies and seeks option sources of manpower.
The initiative highlights Russia’s growing reliance on North Korea for military support, a partnership that has deepened โsinceโ a September 2023 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North โKorean leaderโ Kim Jong Un. Beyond labor, North Korea has already supplied Russia with substantial quantities of artillery shells and โhundreds of artillery systems, multiple-launched missile systems, andโ missiles.โฃ This escalating collaboration raisesโ concerns about โขpotential violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions,โค which impose restrictions on both countries.
Intelligence reports indicate that North Korean military units โare already present in Ukraine, with Kim Jong Un publicly acknowledging the “heroics” of Northโ korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. Estimates suggest thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed, though with notable casualties โฃ- a rocket attack near Donetsk in โOctober 2024 reportedly killed at least 20 North Korean soldiers, including sixโ officers.
The proposed influx of workers โis specifically aimed at increasing Russia’s โproduction of โdrones,crucial for reconnaissance and attack operations in Ukraine. This reliance on foreign labor underscores the strain on Russia’s domestic workforce and its difficulty in meetingโข the demands of a protracted conflict. The move โคalso raises ethical concerns โregarding the potential โฃexploitation of North Korean workers, who may be subjected to harshโค conditions andโฃ limited freedoms.