A global rights group has exposed a state-sponsored forced labour programme in North Korea, generating up to US$500 million annually, with workers facing 'brutal' conditions.

A state-sponsored forced labour programme which has escalated in recent years has generated up to US$500 million annually for North Korea, according to a report by a global rights group. It also warned that workers are trapped in “brutal” conditions where they are subjected to “control, abuse and coercion”. Containing first-hand testimonies of North Koreans exploited in the programme, the report published on Wednesday by Global Rights Compliance – an international human rights foundation – noted...