The little-known story of North Korea's first overseas laborers | NK News
NK News Logo
November 23, 2024
NK News is hiring
Evergreen

The little-known story of North Korea’s first overseas laborers

The early years of the DPRK saw thousands sent to Russia's Far East

In academic circles, it’s well-known that there have been North Korean workers in the Russian Far East since the 1960s - it was then that the first logging camps appeared in the wilderness of the Siberian forests.

However, what’s less well known is that the 1967-1991 logging project had a precedent: in 1946-1950 and then again in 1957-1964 large numbers of North Korean workers were shipped to the Soviet Far East.

Become a member for less
than $5.75 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.