North Korea at war in Ukraine: how Kim Jong-un’s regime made billions on blood
17 April 09:40
While the world is struggling with the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, one of the most isolated regimes on the planet, North Korea, is actively turning this war into a source of enormous profit. According to information published by Newsweek, over the past year and a half, the DPRK has earned more than $20 billion by supplying Russia with weapons, ammunition, and human resources – soldiers and workers, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
For Pyongyang, this is not just a profit, but a strategic opportunity to strengthen its military potential and overcome economic isolation.
Containers of death: what exactly does the DPRK supply?
According to Western and South Korean intelligence, since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the DPRK has handed over more than 16,000 containers of ammunition to Moscow. These are primarily artillery shells of 122 mm and 152 mm caliber, as well as missiles for multiple launch rocket systems, which Russia is actively using against Ukrainian cities.
According to data cited by Newsweek, up to 50% of all shells currently used by Russia at the front are of North Korean origin. During certain periods of hostilities, when Russia was experiencing a critical shortage of ammunition, it was supplies from the DPRK that allowed the Russian army to maintain the pace of shelling in key areas.
DPRK soldiers in the uniform of the Russian Armed Forces
In addition to weapons, Kim Jong-un’s isolationist regime has begun to supply Russia with people. According to South Korean intelligence sources, approximately 14,000 North Korean military personnel are currently stationed in the Kursk region. These forces can be used both in the rear and in combat operations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
According to reports, the DPRK military are wearing Russian army uniforms, which allows them to conceal their presence and formally avoid accusations of direct violations of international law. Their use in the conflict could have severe political consequences, as it is de facto an intervention by another state in hostilities on the territory of a sovereign country.
Political benefits for the DPRK
Russia’s support is not disinterested. North Korea expects to gain access to modern military technologies, including Russian ballistic missiles, satellite reconnaissance systems, aviation and air defense technologies. Such “barter” cooperation allows the DPRK to strengthen its position in the region, particularly in relation to South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
In addition, the war in Ukraine has opened up another opportunity for Pyongyang: to legally circumvent the sanctions that have strangled the DPRK economy for years. Thousands of North Korean citizens are officially sent to Russia under the guise of students, but in fact work at construction sites, ports, and logistics bases. Their average salary of about $800 per month is almost entirely withheld by the state.
Risks and the world’s reaction
Cooperation between the DPRK and Russia does not go unnoticed by the West. In October 2024, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that the United States was ready to tighten sanctions against Pyongyang for participating in the war on the side of Russia. However, despite diplomatic condemnations, the real impact on the situation is still limited, as North Korea is already cut off from most of the world’s economic and financial flows.
Analysts warn that such a military rapprochement could have long-term consequences. If the DPRK gains access to technologies from Russia that it has not been able to acquire on its own for decades, it will change the balance of power in the Far East. In this case, not only Ukraine, but also Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other countries that are already at risk due to the aggressive policies of autocratic regimes will be threatened.
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