North Korea’s poorest youth are choosing brutal labor brigades over life at home

2026-03-16 - 13:03

Young North Koreans facing poverty and an unrelenting burden of workplace levies are volunteering for the country’s much-dreaded labor brigades in growing numbers, choosing grueling construction work as an escape from hardship at home. A Daily NK source in North Hwanghae province said Friday that recent months have seen a rising number of young people in Sariwon and surrounding counties... Source