China demands repatriation of North Korean workers, impacting regime

The Chinese government has repeatedly demanded that North Korean authorities repatriate all of their citizens working in China, according to findings by the South Korean agency Yonhap. This decision likely signals a reduction in income for Kim Jong-un's regime.

While North Korean authorities sought to gradually withdraw their citizens, Beijing insisted that Pyongyang take back all workers whose visas are expiring, Yonhap reported last month, citing an anonymous source. It highlighted that China is seen as the primary "cash cow" for North Korea, which struggles to obtain foreign currency due to international sanctions.

In 2017, the UN Security Council mandated all member states to repatriate North Korean workers by the end of 2019. This measure aims to cut off the regime's hard currency revenue. However, it is estimated that tens, possibly even hundreds of thousands of North Korean workers remain in China and Russia.

“Sending workers abroad and smuggling coal and oil through ship-to-ship transfers are illegal activities that violate UN Security Council resolutions,” an anonymous South Korean foreign ministry official told Yonhap. “As a (non-permanent) member of the Security Council, our country calls on all UN member states to fully implement the UNSC resolutions,” they added.

According to Yonhap’s source, China, “the main ally and economic benefactor of North Korea,” has also tightened customs inspections on exports to North Korea and intensified actions against smuggling.

China could be trying to increase its influence on North Korea at a time when the country is strengthening military cooperation with Russia, the agency added, citing analysts.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, asked for a comment by Yonhap, said that he "had not heard of the issue," adding that "China and North Korea are neighbours and have always maintained traditionally friendly and cooperative relations."