Recent analysis suggests that the value of Pyongyang’s military supplies could be as much as $5.5 billion.
According to research by the Korean Branch Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, North Korea could provide Russia with weapons valued at up to $5.5 billion.
South Korea’s intelligence agency said earlier that Pyongyang had sent 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to send 10,000 troops by December to help Russia in its war on Ukraine. The first North Korean units, trained on Russia’s eastern training grounds have already arrived at the combat zone.
North Korea also supplies Russia with ballistic rockets and ammunition.
Analysts added that even the modestest estimates of the value of the supplies exceeded $1.7 billion.
North Korea can, in any case, significantly increase its revenue through cooperation with Russia. South Korea estimates that the economy of its northern neighbor is only worth $23.7 billion.
North Korea’s revenue can increase significantly after its decision to send troops to Ukraine.
Experts believe that reports of North Korean soldiers being sent to Russia’s war in Ukraine are plausible, given the fact that North Korean troops have been sent to Syria and Angola before.
The analysis states that sending more than 20,000 troops is unlikely, due to the risk of North Korean soldiers escaping and the limited resources.
The research shows that Russia and North Korea are becoming increasingly close partners ever since the start of the war in Ukraine.
“Russia is primarily turning to North Korea because of its enormous ammunition needs. There is also another reason. Russia uses its relationship with North Korea – and the potential transfer military technologies – as a tool for weakening the unity of Western allies, especially in East Asia. Russia wants to use this method to force countries like South Korea and Japan into reconsidering their support for Ukraine,” states the analysis.
But such a strategy is not without its limitations: Pyongyang can only provide the Russian President Vladimir Putin with outdated and unreliable equipment.
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