Breaking Chains: Unveiling Forced Labor Networks

Over 100,000 North Korean nationals are currently exploited abroad as part of a regime of state-sponsored forced labour. Operating in countries such as Russia and China, these programs generate foreign currency for the regime’s nuclear ambitions while subjecting workers to surveillance, wage theft, and abuse – conditions that remain hidden from accountability.

Global Rights Compliance, in partnership with Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) and a defector-led organisation, is currently leading a two-year investigation to identify and expose the networks facilitating DPRK state-imposed forced labour. Through investigation, legal analysis, advocacy, engagement, and capacity building, this project seeks to fortify the global stance against DPRK forced labour and reveal otherwise unseen data on state-imposed forced labour.

Photos Credit: Roman Harak.

Our Services and Activities

Investigative Research – Combining cutting-edge open-source intelligence (OSINT) with on-the-ground insights from defector-led networks to uncover the individuals, companies, and governmental actors enabling DPRK state-sponsored forced labour overseas, with a specific focus on Russia and China.
Legal Action – Mapping accountability pathways and preparing targeted submissions to sanctions bodies and other enforcement mechanisms based on the information collected as part of the investigation.
Advocacy – Publishing a landmark investigative report, launching it globally, and delivering closed-door briefings to push for sanctions and policy reforms.
Capacity Building – Training journalists, researchers, and civil society to investigate and raise global awareness of state-sponsored forced labour issues, in line with best practice standards.
Ethical Safeguards – Embedding trauma-informed, survivor-centred practices in all engagements and ensuring psychosocial support for staff and participants.
Photo Credit: Roman Harak.

Deliverables

A Day in the Life of a DPRK State

Global Rights Compliance, together with their local partner, spoke to 21 DPRK nationals who have worked on, or are currently working on construction sites across 3 Russian cities. Some held managerial roles. All were male. All worked in construction. Their experiences differ but the system controlling them was the same.

PDF link

The project aims to expose and disrupt the networks of state-sponsored entities and individuals involved in maintaining DPRK’s forced labour operations. Through documentation, legal analysis and advocacy, dialogue and capacity building, this project will seek to fortify the global stance against DPRK forced labour and reveal unseen data on state-sponsored forced labour. 

Partners

The project is a consortium between C4ADS, a defector-led organisation, and GRC:

GRC leads the project by providing technical oversight and legal expertise.
C4ADS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that specialises in using publicly accessible data and emerging technologies to produce evidence-driven analysis to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat transnational illicit activity.
A Seoul-based, defector-led organisation.