Russian Network Uses Student Visas to Recruit North Koreans

A network of brokers in Russia is recruiting North Korean workers under the guise of student visas. The scheme bypasses United Nations sanctions and existing labor laws. The operation is coordinated by the KNDR.su platform under the command of businessman Vladimir Sokolov.

Workers are enrolled in colleges they do not attend to avoid the application of labor regulations. Reports indicate twelve-hour shifts six days a week. The platform charges commissions ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 rubles for each hire made.

The state program helps fund North Korea's ballistic missile development. In 2025, Russia issued more than 36,000 visas to North Koreans, a fourfold increase compared to the previous year. Almost all documents were officially granted for educational purposes.

The network also directs labor to sites linked to the Russian military-industrial complex. The effort continues despite a UN ban that has prohibited the presence of North Korean workers in member countries since 2017. It is estimated that the flow of workers generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the Pyongyang regime.

Rising geopolitical tensions and the failure to comply with international sanctions increase the risk of new trade restrictions against Russia.