North Korea Reaps Up to $14.4 Billion From Russia War Support, Expanding Pyongyang and Its Military
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Aug 14
North Korea Reaps Up to $14.4 Billion From Russia War Support, Expanding Pyongyang and Its Military
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Aug 14
Summary
$7.7 billion to $14.4 billion in war-related revenue has helped North Korea finance a visible boom in Pyongyang, from tripled nighttime illumination since 2020 to new high-rise districts, a major hospital and a 20,000-guest beach resort.
Ukraine says Pyongyang supplied about half of Russia's frontline munitions in 2024-2025 and may now send a missile unit with 90 troops, six launchers and up to 120 missiles.
16,000 to 22,000 North Korean soldiers are already operating in Russia's Kursk region, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kim Jong Un plans to deploy another 30,000 to 50,000.
Russia is paying North Korea in cash and goods—about $2,800 a month per soldier, plus oil, grain and military technology including drone, missile and submarine know-how.
Most North Koreans are still not sharing in the gains: food prices are rising, the won is weakening, and experts say Kim's 20-by-10 regional factory plan is failing for lack of power, equipment and raw materials.