North Korea Reaps Up to $13.8 Billion From Russia's Ukraine War
Updated
Updated · Nikkei Asia · May 11
North Korea Reaps Up to $13.8 Billion From Russia's Ukraine War
9 articles · Updated · Nikkei Asia · May 11
$13 billion to $13.8 billion in cash and energy over three years has given North Korea an economic windfall approaching its annual GDP, according to South Korean intelligence and Nikkei analysis.
Pyongyang earned the proceeds by supplying Russia with artillery shells, KN-23 missiles and as many as 30,000 troops for the war in Ukraine.
The inflows have helped North Korea blunt international sanctions while also securing energy supplies and, South Korean officials say, access to sensitive military technology.
The windfall underscores how Russia's invasion has deepened a partnership formalized by a 2024 mutual defense treaty, linking Pyongyang's economy more closely to Moscow's war effort.
With billions earned from Russia, is North Korea's war economy creating an unstoppable nuclear power?
As its soldiers gain combat experience in Ukraine, how is North Korea's military threat evolving?
What is the true price of Pyongyang's alliance with Moscow as thousands of its soldiers die in Ukraine?
From Tanks to Technology: North Korea’s $13 Billion Bet on Russia and the Global Fallout (2024–2026)
Overview
From 2024 to 2026, the alliance between North Korea and Russia rapidly intensified, leading to a direct exchange of North Korean military aid—such as the deployment of Chonma-2 tanks and crews to Ukraine—for significant economic and technological benefits for Pyongyang. This move marked a dangerous escalation in the Ukraine conflict and a pivotal shift in global security dynamics. Russia, facing shortages in essential military hardware, relied on North Korean armor as a short-term solution, enabling sustained offensive operations and the rotation of exhausted units. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian battlefield became a live laboratory for North Korea to test its advanced vehicles and combat doctrines.