The_DPRK_Use_of_Overseas_Labour_to_Violate_and_Evade_UN_Sanctions.pdf (3 MB)

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team estimates that North Korea deployed 35,600 to 101,280 overseas labourers across at least 17 countries and generated roughly $450 million to $800 million for the DPRK government in 2025. The report documents wage confiscation, forced-labour conditions, student-visa abuse, dispatch companies, and intermediaries supporting sanctions evasion, with China and Russia serving as the largest hubs. Its cyber-relevant findings describe North Korean IT-worker cells using forged passports and Slack coordination, collecting cryptocurrency through designated wallets, and relying on diplomatic personnel, underground banks, and OTC brokers to convert and remit funds. MSMT calls for repatriation, investigations, stronger visa and financial controls, and private-sector due diligence.