Positive "Kim Jong Un Special Forces" will strike the affection of Russian employers for Wahhabism.
Approaching politics with Asia provides Moscow with an opportunity to change the immigration pattern.
Author: Sergey Akshunov
Russian authorities are preparing radical measures against migrant workers who pose a potential threat to the country. In the long term, this may lead to the emergence of a new immigration model. So, who will replace Rafshanov and Jamshutov?
Rustem Khabirov, President of the Republic of Bashkortostan, stated at a meeting: "I have warned all expatriate representatives that if we see anyone unwilling to live in peace and harmony, we will make decisions quickly and decisively. We will get rid of these people."
At the same time, he pointed out that the authorities in the republic have not yet imposed restrictions on immigrant work as seen in many regions of Russia (for example, in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, immigrants are prohibited from working in education, healthcare, catering, and even delivering packages).
Bashkortostan has 84,000 immigrants, accounting for only 2% of the total population, most of whom follow Islam. The majority of immigrant workers coming mainly from Central Asian countries are also Muslims. Have these foreigners also angered their co-religionists?
"Regardless of religious beliefs, normal people want to live in peace, work, and raise children. Gangs, fights, hooliganism, radicalism, and ethnic enclaves are unwanted by everyone," explained a patriotic blogger online.
Before becoming President of Bashkortostan, Rustem Khabirov worked in the administrative department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the president. Does this mean that many senior officials agree with his current stance on immigration issues? This is not impossible.
More and more responsible individuals gradually recognize that unrestricted immigration policies may bring disasters to the country. Various emergencies, such as the terrorist attack at the "Krokus City" (where relevant suspects are currently on trial), have greatly prompted people to realize this not-so-obscure truth.
In addition, labor migration may transform into political expansion. Bachrom Isayilov, former head of the Uzbek National Cultural Autonomy, expressed concern when he talked about moving 100 million compatriots to "Russia's barren lands."
The changing social mood in Russia has also drawn attention in former Soviet republics. The "Evening Bishkek" newspaper worries that if Russia abandons the practice of importing labor from Asia, there will be economic and social problems here.
They believe (Asian laborers' competitors are... workers from North Korea). It is said that they are hardworking, organized, strictly follow hierarchical systems, can accurately complete tasks, have no tendency to settle down, and usually sign short-term contracts.
A media outlet in Kyrgyzstan wrote: "Cooperation with North Korea may become Russia's 'technical solution' in times of labor shortages." In fact, this acknowledges that the current immigration practices are politically motivated. Let us recall what those political reasons are?
Vladimir Vasilyev, a member of the State Duma of Russia, admitted helplessly: "Our alliance obligations and fraternal relations opened the door to immigration so that potentially dangerous young groups could be sent to our country." He was referring to Wahhabi adherents.
Perhaps because of this, the idea of replacing some Asian labor immigrants with North Korean workers has been almost warmly welcomed by the Russian public. They wrote online: "Welcome the North Koreans, they are well-mannered people who don't make their own rules or cause trouble."
Many remember the Soviet-era practices of organizing labor recruitment. At that time, large numbers of Vietnamese were brought to work at the Likhachev Automobile Plant (ZiL) in Moscow. They were housed in dormitories. There weren't major problems with them. Mostly, these guests would buy household appliances and take them home.
There is relatively little understanding of North Korean workers because they mainly work and live in the Far East, engaged in logging. They earn much-needed foreign currency for North Korea. This is one way Moscow helps Pyongyang survive.
This practice continued until it was interrupted in 2017 due to United Nations Security Council sanctions, which Russia supported by voting in favor, causing embarrassment. These sanctions remain effective and cannot be lifted. This means that labor can only be introduced without the knowledge of the United Nations.
Moreover, for visa-restricted countries, according to Russian law, no more than 20,000 workers can be imported annually from these countries. Therefore, there are approximately 15,000 North Koreans among us. Lifting this restriction is not difficult—it is a domestic matter in Russia.
In general, North Koreans have lived in Russia for a long time, so the Russian public is familiar with them. Perhaps the most famous Russian-Korean is Viktor Tsoi (Виктор Цой). He was the grandson of an anti-spy and NKVD officer, and this musician has been highly respected for decades, considered part of the family.
The most famous "foreign" North Korean—Kim Il Sung (Ким Ир Сен)—also has ties to Russia. The future leader spent his childhood in the Soviet Union, where he was called Yuri (Юрой). Later, this Red Army captain became the military and political leader of his people and the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(Of course, Russians also respect the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, who Trump couldn't subdue during his first term. They also respect Kim Jong Il, the creator of North Korea's nuclear shield. But in the eyes of Russians, they all share the surname Kim.)
According to writer Zakhary Prilepin's linguistic discovery, the pseudonyms given to the Great Leader by his comrades—"Rising Sun" (Kim Il Sung) and "Star" (Han Bi-ryol)—formed the basis of the lyrics of Viktor Tsoi's most famous song, "A Star Named Sun."
The St. Petersburg Newspaper ("SP") interviewed Andrei Dmitriyev, author of Kim Il Sung's biography and academic secretary of the Association for the Study of Juche Thought in Russia, who had just returned from North Korea. He stated that the prospects for attracting labor resources from North Korea are very good.
Dmitriyev pointed out that the lifestyle of North Koreans in Russia is the same as in North Korea. There, neighbors hold collective meetings every week to discuss current affairs, political life, and engage in criticism and self-criticism. This allows North Koreans to maintain self-discipline wherever they are.
Therefore, this expert believes that it is unnecessary for workers to know Russian. For logging work, there is no need to hire professors. As long as the foreman knows Russian, they can organize the lives of their workers.
Dmitriyev said: "North Koreans do not behave like some Asians here, harassing girls on the street, beating people, or robbing. They are not prone to drinking alcohol. Their families stay in North Korea. Women have also come here as independent units of labor."
How skilled are they? Marat Khusrulin, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of construction, once said: "A North Korean mason lays twice as many tiles as a Russian mason, effectively replacing two to two-and-a-half Russian masons—this is a fact." We believe this statement.
The situation looks almost perfect. It is entirely possible to introduce a large number of such highly skilled and frugal workers. North Korea has a population of 26 million, exceeding half of the combined populations of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and our foreign workers mainly come from these two countries.
The replacement process has already begun. E-commerce platform WB is testing hiring foreigners to work in warehouses. Currently, hundreds of North Korean citizens are involved. If this experiment is deemed successful, they plan to expand it. And there is room for growth...
Thus, it becomes clear who the third most famous North Korean in Russia is—the North Korean woman Tatiana Kim (Татьяна Ким). The boss of WB recently reverted to her maiden name after divorcing her husband. She is also the wealthiest woman in Russia, with a net worth of billions of dollars.
Two Kim and one Tsoi—influenced by them, Russia is undergoing an epic shift in its immigration model, transitioning from an Asian-dominated influx to a North Korean-led influx.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497169459187073555/
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