North Korean soldiers in the Middle East - as construction workers

North Korean soldiers head to the Middle East as construction labourers, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported Friday.

Soldiers from the North Korean army have been dispatched into countries like Kuwait and Qatar to work on North Korean operated construction sites.

The move comes at a time where North Korean construction companies such as Namkang and Cholyon are struggling to pay workers in a difficult financial climate, as soldiers do not need to be compensated for their work due to their work for the North Korean military.

There have been multiple construction labourer strikes in the Middle East in the past two months, with workers being summoned back to North Korea after the protests.

According to RFA, over 70 soldier-labourers have been employed by Cholyon has been steadily since 2010.

The report also stated that around 30 percent of labourers in Namkan are soldiers.

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