December 13, 2006: In the last month, there has been an increase in violence against North Koreans working in eastern Russia (adjacent to North Korea). At least two North Koreans have been beaten to death, and many more injured. North Korea basically provides very low cost labor to Russian companies. North Korea then keeps most of the money the workers do earn, meaning that the workers are basically enslaved. Local Russians resent these labor practices, as it lowers wages in general, and deprives Russians of employment opportunities.