Russia transfers about $5.5 billion to North Korea for arms supplies - study

According to the reports studied by the Foundation, it is known that even according to the most conservative estimates, the cost of arms supplies from North Korea to Russia exceeds 1.7 billion dollars. At the same time, South Korea estimates North Korea's total economic output at only $23.7 billion.

Reports indicate that if the information about North Korea sending troops to Ukraine is confirmed, North Korea's revenues could increase by hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Foundation also believes that in order not to jeopardize the stability of the North Korean regime and the possibility of North Korean soldiers' escape, the deployment of more than 20,000 soldiers seems unlikely.

According to available documents, Russia and North Korea have become closer since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and official trade between the two countries has increased significantly. In particular, in the first half of 2024, the volume of trade increased to 52.9 million US dollars. For the whole of 2023, it amounted to about USD 34.4 million. This growth indicates that the annual volume of trade between the two countries may return to the level that existed before the tightening of sanctions in 2017.

Such cooperation will also lead to an increase in the number of diplomatic visits between the two countries. This year, there have already been more than 24 of them. Over the past three decades, the norm was a maximum of five meetings.

North Korean soldiers in Russia

In early October, it became known that North Korea had sent its soldiers to Russia. They will help it in its war against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intelligence, some of North Korea's military are already in the war zone in the Kursk region.

At the same time, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that North Korea's actions are allegedly provided for by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with North Korea.