North Korea is reportedly securing billions of dollars in financial support, resources, and diplomatic leverage from Russia in exchange for arms and troops to aid Moscow’s war against Ukraine, according to a report by The New York Times.
Research by Olena Guseinova of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul estimates that North Korea has earned up to $5.5 billion through arms deals with Russia.
Additionally, the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia could generate $572 million annually, a substantial sum compared to the country’s official exports, which totaled $330 million last year.
“Kim Jong Un is receiving billions of dollars worth of food, oil, cash, and advanced weapons systems from Russia, helping his regime withstand international sanctions and upgrade its conventional armed forces,” analysts told The New York Times.
Neither Russia nor North Korea has disclosed the details of how Moscow is compensating Pyongyang.
Massive Weapons Shipments
North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with arms through 20,000 shipping containers, which included:
Artillery shells
Ballistic missiles
Multiple rocket launch systems
Long-range howitzers
In addition to weapons, North Korea is allegedly receiving food supplies, advanced space technology, and financial compensation for its support.
Former South Korean ambassador to Russia, Wi Sung-lac, highlighted these exchanges in a statement on November 3.
Troop Presence Confirmed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed in November that 11,000 North Korean soldiers were stationed near Ukraine’s border in the Kursk region of Russia.
On December 14, Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia had used North Korean troops in ground assaults against Ukrainian positions in the region.
