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U.S. Says North Korean Workers Earn Russia Drone Billions

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 10:53 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Russia mobilises up to 25,000 North Korean workers to build drones used against Ukraine.
U.S. and allies say the labor will generate up to US$800 million for North Korean leader Kim Jong un’s regime in 2025.
Workers enter Russia under a student-visa scheme that allows them to evade sanctions.
Annual wages are about US$7,500, most of which the regime confiscates.
North Korean labor funds regime’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes, violating UN resolutions.

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Story summary

Russia mobilises up to 25,000 North Korean workers to build drones used against Ukraine.
U.S. and allies say the labor will generate up to US$800 million for North Korean leader Kim Jong un’s regime in 2025.
Workers enter Russia under a student-visa scheme that allows them to evade sanctions.
Annual wages are about US$7,500, most of which the regime confiscates.
North Korean labor funds regime’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes, violating UN resolutions.