With concentration and nimble fingers, Kwon Ok-Kyung sews a piece of leather at a factory in China.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />It's all part of a joint venture between the North and South, who remain technically at war.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />But compared to North Koreans working at home, or indeed some other North Koreans sent abroad to work... these workers have it quite good.<br/> <br />They work a standard 40 hours a week, and are paid in cash rather than vouchers.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) KIM KYUNG-SUNG, STANDING CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH AND NORTH KOREAN SPORTS EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION, SAYING:<br/> <br />"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."<br/> <br />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.
