North Korean workers on long-term assignments in China have recently clashed with officials who refused to release their wages, Daily NK has learned.
“North Koreans who have been working at a seafood plant in Dalian, Liaoning province, without returning home for three or more years were recently granted a special five-day vacation and permitted to ship their belongings back home,” a source in China told Daily NK recently.
Groups of workers were allowed to leave the factory for five days, from March 15 to 20. During this time, they reportedly asked the officials managing them for a portion of their deposited wages to buy presents for their families.
North Korean officials routinely deduct the government’s share from workers’ monthly wages received from Chinese factories, setting the remainder aside and maintaining records of their savings until the workers return to Korea.
Since officials effectively control these savings accounts, their refusal to release any funds sparked a heated dispute.
“North Korean workers lost their tempers when they couldn’t access wages that officials had been holding for more than three years. This led to a physical altercation between officials and workers that was eventually broken up by Chinese individuals,” the source said.
Under intense pressure, officials eventually distributed some cash, but far less than needed for workers to purchase family gifts. Consequently, some workers had to borrow money from Chinese friends to buy presents.
While workers appreciated being allowed to send belongings home, some were so distressed about not affording gifts that they broke down crying, according to the source.
North Korean officials, concerned about news of the incident spreading, have instructed work crew leaders to remain silent.
In January 2024, a North Korean official was beaten to death over unpaid wages by North Korean workers in Nanping, Helong city, in China’s Jilin province. Given the international coverage of that incident, officials are worried about similar stories reaching global media.
Following the latest dispute, North Korean workers are anxious about ever receiving their hard-earned money.
“Considering workers weren’t even given enough money for presents, many worry whether they’ll receive their full wages upon returning home. Chinese who heard about the incident say North Koreans are little better than slaves—spending all day breathing fish fumes, working until their hands and feet swell, and not even being paid,” the source said.
Workers are reportedly allowed to include daily necessities such as shampoo, soap, and detergent in packages sent home, but no electronic devices.
Daily NK recently reported that Chinese customs authorities in Dandong are strictly inspecting North Koreans’ personal goods for electronic devices and confiscating any they find.
These recent customs measures apparently prompted North Korean officials to instruct workers to primarily pack everyday necessities.
March 26, 2025 at 12:04PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)