North Korea got $14 billion from Russia since 2022

Since 2022, North Korea has received as much as $22 billion in foreign revenue, with $14 billion coming from arms sales to Russia, according to Bloomberg. This revenue enabled North Korea to convert its domestic stockpiles into cash, food aid, and advanced military technology. By the end of 2025, North Korea provided up to 50% of Russia's needs for commonly used 122 mm and 152 mm ammunition, as Ukrainian intelligence estimates suggest.

In June 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense agreement. Shortly after, in October 2024, North Korea began sending troops to Russia. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that North Korea received up to $14.02 billion from Russia, with over 90% of that figure tied to arms sales. The remaining income was derived from tourism and labor exports.

North Korea deployed an estimated 16,000 to 22,000 soldiers to Russia, reportedly receiving about $2,000 per month for each service member. Thousands of these troops lost their lives on the battlefield, and many reportedly took their own lives to avoid capture. Pyongyang received additional payments for each fatality.

With the proceeds from these arms sales, Kim has accelerated the expansion of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Estimates suggest that North Korea could match France's nuclear stockpile within the next decade. Russian technology and cooperation have also hastened the development of new weapons, such as strike drones, raising long-term regional security risks.