The U.S. State Department is expected to submit a report to Congress this week that details North Korea's abuse of its people with overseas labor, including the list of countries and individuals that accept or use such labor, sources said.

The planned report is the latest in a series of measures by Washington to increase pressure on Pyongyang over its human rights records. Last month, the U.S. imposed its first-ever sanctions on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for his roles in the country's human rights violations.

The department is required to submit the report by Aug. 17 or within 180 days of the enactment of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, which went into effect February in the wake of the North's fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch. 

As required by the law, the report is expected to include a list of countries that forcibly repatriate refugees from the North, a list of countries where North Korean laborers work, including countries that have formal arrangements with the North or any person acting for or on behalf of the North to employ North Korean workers.

The report is also expected to include a plan for bilateral and multilateral outreach, including sustained engagement with the governments of partners and allies to brief them on North Korea human rights issues, as well as public affairs and public diplomacy strategies.

About 50,000-60,000 North Koreans are believed to be toiling overseas, mostly in China and Russia and mainly in the mining, logging, textile and construction industries. The average wage was stated as $120 to $150 per month, but in most cases employing firms paid salaries directly to the North's government.

The North reportedly receives in the low $100s of millions from this system per year.

They are also forced to work usually between 12 and 16 hours, and sometimes up to 20 hours, per day, with only one or two rest days per month, and health and safety measures are often inadequate. Workers are given insufficient daily food rations.

North Korea has long been labeled as one of the worst human rights violators. The communist regime does not tolerate dissent, holds hundreds of thousands of people in political prison camps and keeps tight control over outside information.

But the North has bristled at such criticism, calling it a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime. (Yonhap)