North Korea could have received about $3 billion from Russia for the provided missiles
$3 billion is more than 10% of the DPRK's economy, which totals $25 billion
Russia has spent billions of dollars as part of an agreement with North Korea to supply ammunition.
Source. Bloomberg
The high demand caused by the war in Ukraine has led to an increase in world prices for such products. For example, 155-mm artillery shells used by NATO forces cost about $3,000 each.
Thus, if North Korea was selling ammunition at similar prices, Russia had to pay $3 billion. This is a lot of money for Pyongyang. According to the Central Bank of South Korea, $3 billion is more than 10% of the DPRK's economy, which totals $25 billion.
"North Korea is a people who think about profit," said King Mallory, director of the RAND Center for Global Risk and Security.
In his opinion, from the point of view of cash flow, agreements with Russia are very important for the leader of the republic, Kim Jong Un.
"There is no way that [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu, Foreign Minister [Sergei Lavrov], and President [Vladimir Putin] are pleasing Kim Jong Un for peanuts," Mallory adds.
He believes that Russia has most likely offered Kim an aid package that includes cash, access to its banking systems, technology transfer, and assistance in acquiring components for weapons abroad.
The day before, it became known that North Korea sent more than 1 million artillery shells to Russia for the war with Ukraine. A total of 10 shipments have been made since August. In addition, Pyongyang has sent advisors to help, who will consult on the use of these munitions.
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