North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with an estimated $9.8 billion worth of military aid to support its ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a new study commissioned by the Korea Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. This significant contribution, which includes weapons, ammunition, and military personnel since the beginning of 2023, represents over one-third of North Korea’s annual economic output.
In contrast, the support North Korea has received from Russia has been markedly limited. Moscow’s compensation is calculated at about $1.2 billion, comprising shipments of food, oil, and some military hardware, including air defense systems and GPS jammers, as well as the possibility of fighter aircraft. While there have been indications that Russia may be involved in constructing a new 5,000-ton warship for North Korea, the report indicates that there is no solid evidence that Russia has effectively advanced North Korea’s defense technology.
The findings illustrate what the report describes as an “unequal partnership” between the two nations. Although Russia has benefitted from a steady supply of essential wartime resources, North Korea’s economic situation remains precarious, with little improvement arising from this bilateral engagement. Earlier assessments from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses suggested that Russia’s contributions could have been valued as high as $20 billion, which further highlights the stark imbalance in this exchange.
Despite this disparity, the ties between North Korea and Russia are reportedly deepening. For North Korea, the alliance offers a counterbalance to its traditional dependency on China, as well as access to advanced military technologies and international legitimacy. On the other hand, Russia views this relationship as crucial in maintaining a reliable supply of arms and manpower, particularly as Western sanctions impose increasing pressure on its own military capabilities.
Analysts warn that this burgeoning partnership is likely to extend beyond the immediate circumstances of the Ukraine conflict, potentially reshaping North Korea’s geopolitical alignments and strategy moving forward.
