Pyongyang Moscow Express Interest In Sending North Korean Workers To Rebuild Eastern Ukraine

North Korea has hinted it is interested in sending construction workers to Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine to help the Kremlin’s reconstruction efforts in the war-torn regions as its invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month. Pyongyang’s ambassador to Moscow recently met with envoys from two Russian-backed separatist territories in Ukraine’s Donbass region and expressed optimism for cooperation in the “labor migration sector,” citing an easing of his country’s pandemic border controls. The idea is openly supported by senior Russian officials and diplomats, who envision a cheap and hard-working workforce that could be thrown into “the most arduous conditions,” a term used by Russia’s ambassador to North Korea in a recent interview. Rebecca Kofflera former U.S. DIA intelligence officer who focused on Russia and author of “Putin’s Playbook: Russian’s Secret Plan to Defeat America,” told Fox News Digital that Putin, visually, is trying to show that Russia is not entirely isolated and still has friends in the world despite severe sanctions and pressure resulting from the invasion of Ukraine. GORBATCHIF STUDIES AT FUNERAL THROUGHOUT THE STATE, PUTIN DOESN’T ATTEND Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool) “From a practical point of view,” Kofler said, “it makes sense for Putin to use these workers because who else is going to go? Because these are dangerous conditions in Donbas and the Russian military already has trouble recruiting people to go and fight there .” The talks came after North Korea in July became the only nation besides Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of Ukraine’s breakaway territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, further aligning itself with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. RUSSIAN OIL EXECUTIVE WHO RESPONDED OKRANIA INVASION DEAD AFTER CONTENTS FELL FROM HOSPITAL WINDOW A man walks down a street in Severodonetsk, eastern Ukraine, after shelling (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images) Employing North Korean workers in the Donbass would clearly run afoul of UN Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs and would further complicate US-led international pressure for its denuclearization. Many experts doubt that North Korea will send workers as long as the war remains in flux, with a steady flow of Western weapons helping Ukraine push back the much larger Russian forces, but say it is highly likely that North Korea will provide labor in the Donbass when the fighting eases to stimulate its own economy. Human rights groups have reported in recent years that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is sending tens of thousands of his own impoverished citizens to Russian labor camps to generate cash for his regime. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This photo taken on September 3, 2017 and released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 4, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attending a meeting (STR/AFP via Getty Images ) A report issued in 2017 by the Seoul-based North Korean Human Rights Database estimated that some 50,000 North Korean workers work in low-paid jobs in Russia. They send at least $120 million every year to the Pyongyang regime. It’s unclear what type of workers might be sent to eastern parts of Ukraine to help Russia’s reconstruction effort, but Koffler told Fox News Digital that it’s “very likely” the work assignment will be “mandatory” for North Koreans who are selected. it is time for me to go.
The Associated Press contributed to this report Andrew Mark Miller is a writer at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips at [email protected]

title: “Pyongyang Moscow Express Interest In Sending North Korean Workers To Rebuild Eastern Ukraine Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Arthur Dorch”

North Korea has hinted it is interested in sending construction workers to Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine to help the Kremlin’s reconstruction efforts in the war-torn regions as its invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month. Pyongyang’s ambassador to Moscow recently met with envoys from two Russian-backed separatist territories in Ukraine’s Donbass region and expressed optimism for cooperation in the “labor migration sector,” citing an easing of his country’s pandemic border controls. The idea is openly supported by senior Russian officials and diplomats, who envision a cheap and hard-working workforce that could be thrown into “the most arduous conditions,” a term used by Russia’s ambassador to North Korea in a recent interview. Rebecca Kofflera former U.S. DIA intelligence officer who focused on Russia and author of “Putin’s Playbook: Russian’s Secret Plan to Defeat America,” told Fox News Digital that Putin, visually, is trying to show that Russia is not entirely isolated and still has friends in the world despite severe sanctions and pressure resulting from the invasion of Ukraine. GORBATCHIF STUDIES AT FUNERAL THROUGHOUT THE STATE, PUTIN DOESN’T ATTEND Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool) “From a practical point of view,” Kofler said, “it makes sense for Putin to use these workers because who else is going to go? Because these are dangerous conditions in Donbas and the Russian military already has trouble recruiting people to go and fight there .” The talks came after North Korea in July became the only nation besides Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of Ukraine’s breakaway territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, further aligning itself with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. RUSSIAN OIL EXECUTIVE WHO RESPONDED OKRANIA INVASION DEAD AFTER CONTENTS FELL FROM HOSPITAL WINDOW A man walks down a street in Severodonetsk, eastern Ukraine, after shelling (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images) Employing North Korean workers in the Donbass would clearly run afoul of UN Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs and would further complicate US-led international pressure for its denuclearization. Many experts doubt that North Korea will send workers as long as the war remains in flux, with a steady flow of Western weapons helping Ukraine push back the much larger Russian forces, but say it is highly likely that North Korea will provide labor in the Donbass when the fighting eases to stimulate its own economy. Human rights groups have reported in recent years that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is sending tens of thousands of his own impoverished citizens to Russian labor camps to generate cash for his regime. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This photo taken on September 3, 2017 and released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 4, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attending a meeting (STR/AFP via Getty Images ) A report issued in 2017 by the Seoul-based North Korean Human Rights Database estimated that some 50,000 North Korean workers work in low-paid jobs in Russia. They send at least $120 million every year to the Pyongyang regime. It’s unclear what type of workers might be sent to eastern parts of Ukraine to help Russia’s reconstruction effort, but Koffler told Fox News Digital that it’s “very likely” the work assignment will be “mandatory” for North Koreans who are selected. it is time for me to go.
The Associated Press contributed to this report Andrew Mark Miller is a writer at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips at [email protected]