North Korea has made huge amount of money with war in Ukraine

North Korea’s involvement in the war in Ukraine has generated as much as $20 billion for its economy to date, according to a new report by South Korea’s Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA).

The report highlights growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow over the course of the three-year-long conflict. Russia, which initially expected a swift victory over Ukraine, has become mired in prolonged and costly fighting.

Last year, North Korea reportedly sent a contingent of 12,000 troops to support Russian forces, particularly in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian resistance remains strong following a breakthrough last summer.

KIDA’s report indicates that North Korea’s economic windfall comes largely from arms sales to Russia. In return, Pyongyang has received substantial technical assistance—especially in developing its military capabilities.

An investigation by Reuters and the Open Source Centre found that approximately 15,800 containers filled with munitions were shipped to Russia from North Korea between August 2023 and March 2025.

(QG - Source: Newsweek - Picture : © Unsplash)