North Korea earned $13 billion by providing military support to Russia in invasion of Ukraine
This revenue is almost equal to the DPRK’s annual gross domestic product.
North Korea is making unprecedented profits by providing military support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, receiving foreign currency and energy resources in exchange for weapons and troops. It is estimated that North Korea earned up to $13 billion in 2024-2026, which is almost equal to the country’s annual gross domestic product. This is reported by the Japanese publication Nikkei Asia.
The fact that North Korea is supplying material resources to Russia became known in 2022, when Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang has increased such supplies and begun sending troops after Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive partnership pact in June 2024.
North Korea has shipped between $7 billion and $13.8 billion worth of weapons through 2025, according to an estimate by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service research institute. In addition to supplying rocket artillery and shells, North Korea has shipped nearly 250 KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles, which were developed with Russian assistance.
In return, North Korea likely received not only foreign currency but also materials for weapons and military technology, in addition to basic necessities.
Moscow is believed to have paid more than $600 million for the deployment of North Korean troops over a little over a year, starting in the fall of 2024. According to a report by a South Korean lawmaker who visited Ukraine in February 2026, about 10,000 North Korean special forces remain in the combat zone. In addition, about 10,000 engineers, as well as hundreds of drone operators and soldiers from the DPRK, provide fire support on the front lines. North Korea is reported to be planning to send an additional 30,000 troops to Ukraine.
North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine are known to receive about $2,000 in compensation per month, as well as a death benefit of up to $10,000. As of February 2026, about 6,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Ukraine.
Kim Jong-un treats returning North Korean soldiers as national heroes, and the families of fallen soldiers receive compensation, such as luxury housing in Pyongyang. Many senior Russian officials have been invited to a ceremony in North Korea in late April 2026 to mark the completion of a memorial hall in honor of the soldiers involved.
North Korea’s GDP is estimated to be between $12 billion and $26 billion, but figures vary depending on the reporting agency due to data limitations. UN statistics put North Korea’s GDP at $17.2 billion in 2024, while the Bank of South Korea estimated it at $25.3 billion. According to the bank, the North Korean economy grew by 3.7% in 2024, the highest rate since sanctions were imposed in 2016.
“Increasing arms sales to Russia could lead to long-term changes in North Korea’s industrial structure and technological capabilities,” said Nam Jin-wook, a researcher at the Korea Development Institute.
The booming defense industry and improved energy supplies are benefiting North Korean citizens. The number of Japanese and European-made luxury cars on the country’s streets has increased significantly compared to the previous period. But it remains unclear whether these benefits extend to the majority of the population, who live in rural areas.