North Koreans work in South Korean factory
- 12 years ago
With concentration and nimble fingers, Kwon Ok-Kyung sews a piece of leather at a factory in China.
She's one of 20 North Korean workers at the factory, located just over the border, who make soccer boots by hand for athletes in South Korea.
It's all part of a joint venture between the North and South, who remain technically at war.
With the risk of defecting quite high, labourers here are thoroughly vetted by the North Korean government.... and are strictly monitored by managers wearing red communist party pins.
But compared to North Koreans working at home, or indeed some other North Koreans sent abroad to work... these workers have it quite good.
They work a standard 40 hours a week, and are paid in cash rather than vouchers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) KIM KYUNG-SUNG, STANDING CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH AND NORTH KOREAN SPORTS EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION, SAYING:
"Monthly pay is about 200 U.S. dollars. That is given via a leader of the North Korean workers, who delivers 100 percent of the pay to the workers. They take it all for living expenses. And they go shopping a couple of times a month."
Although the factory isn't likely to generate enough profit to make a significant difference in the struggling North Korean economy, for workers at least its a rare opportunity to earn a living outside the Hermit Kingdom.
She's one of 20 North Korean workers at the factory, located just over the border, who make soccer boots by hand for athletes in South Korea.
It's all part of a joint venture between the North and South, who remain technically at war.
With the risk of defecting quite high, labourers here are thoroughly vetted by the North Korean government.... and are strictly monitored by managers wearing red communist party pins.
But compared to North Koreans working at home, or indeed some other North Koreans sent abroad to work... these workers have it quite good.
They work a standard 40 hours a week, and are paid in cash rather than vouchers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) KIM KYUNG-SUNG, STANDING CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH AND NORTH KOREAN SPORTS EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION, SAYING:
"Monthly pay is about 200 U.S. dollars. That is given via a leader of the North Korean workers, who delivers 100 percent of the pay to the workers. They take it all for living expenses. And they go shopping a couple of times a month."
Although the factory isn't likely to generate enough profit to make a significant difference in the struggling North Korean economy, for workers at least its a rare opportunity to earn a living outside the Hermit Kingdom.