US Places North Korea Among Worst Human Traffickers
The US State Department has placed North Korea back in Tier 3 due to the forced labor and wage deductions of overseas workers.
In the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the US State Department, North Korea was positioned among the worst human traffickers due to practices involving the confiscation of a large portion of overseas workers' salaries and forced labor.
Tier 3 Status
In the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US State Department, the Pyongyang regime continued to be placed in Tier 3 on the grounds that it failed to meet the minimum standards for combating human trafficking.
Overseas Workers
According to the report, thousands of North Korean workers in China and Russia are employed in sectors such as factories, construction, and information technology, and up to 90 percent of these individuals' earnings are confiscated.
Forced Labor Conditions
While workers sent abroad face forced labor conditions such as excessive working hours, restricted wages, confiscation of passports, and close surveillance, they are also subjected to threats against their relatives.
Domestic Situation and Camps
The Washington administration estimates that thousands of people are held in political prisons and forced labor camps, and that prisoners, including children, are made to work under severe conditions.