{
  "id": 277074,
  "title": "North Korea got $14 billion from Russia since 2022",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/north-korea-got-14-billion-from-russia-since-2022",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T18:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Voice of Ukraine",
    "slug": "new-voice-of-ukraine",
    "url": "https://english.nv.ua/nation/north-korea-got-14-billion-from-russia-since-2022-50630893.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nNorth 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.\n\nWith 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.",
  "summary": "According to Bloomberg, North Korea has received up to $14 billion from Russia since 2022, with the majority of that amount ($14 billion) coming from arms sales. This arrangement began after North Korea provided Russia with a significant portion of its ammunition needs, accounting for up to 50% of Russia's frequently used 122 mm and 152 mm ammunition. The two countries signed a mutual defense agreement in June 2024, and North Korean troops began serving in Russia in October 2024. North Korea has reportedly sent between 16,000 and 22,000 soldiers, with each deployed service member being paid around $2,000 per month. Some troops have reportedly died on the battlefield or committed suicide to avoid capture, with Pyongyang receiving additional payments for each fatality. Kim Jong Un has used these funds to accelerate the development of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, with estimates suggesting that North Korea could match France's nuclear arsenal within a decade. Russian technology and cooperation have also contributed to the development of new weapons, such as strike drones, posing long-term regional security risks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}