North Korean laborers in the Chinese border city of Dandong have reportedly ceased work, demanding repatriation to North Korea. Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, shared insights from a source indicating that the work stoppage occurred in mid-February.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The North Korean consulate was dispatched to address the situation but reportedly faced challenges in persuading the workers, who expressed a preference to return home despite the potential consequences. The incident highlights the physical and emotional toll on North Korean workers abroad, as South Korea's intelligence service monitors the situation. This event follows reports of a riot by North Korean workers in Jilin Province over unpaid wages, underscoring ongoing violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions by North Korea's employment of workers in foreign countries.