--- title: "22 Billion in Three Years: How Kim Jong Un Turned the War in Ukraine into a Goldmine for North Korea" description: "πŸ’° **$22 Billion in Three Years**: Kim Jong Un turned the war in Ukraine into a goldmine for North Korea. πŸ“‰ **Economy**: Revenue from arms supplies to Russia and China allowed North Korea to show 3.5% economic growth in 2025 β€” the best result in 35 years. πŸš€ **Military Potential**: Pyongyang supplied Moscow with 50% of shells and 22,000 soldiers. In return, it received technology and funds to build its own destroyers and missiles. ⚠️ **New Threats**: A North Korean missile unit is being formed in the Voronezh region. North Korea is seeking new arms buyers. πŸ“Š **Status**: Kim Jong Un's regime is in its strongest position, although some funds remain abroad due to sanctions." date: 2026-08-07T05:50:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kim-jong-un-22-billion-russia-ukraine-war-economy-en tags: [north-korea, kim-chen-in, russia-ukraine-war, economy, military, sanctions, china] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # 22 Billion in Three Years: How Kim Jong Un Turned the War in Ukraine into a Goldmine for North Korea ![Kim Jong Un in front of North Korean flags, symbolizing North Korea's role in benefiting from the war in Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/07/kim-chen-in-22-billion-russia-ukraine-war-economy/kim-chen-in-22-billion-russia-ukraine-war-economy-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - North Korea's revenue from cooperation with Russia amounted to $22 billion between 2022 and 2025. - North Korea's economy showed 3.5% growth in 2025, a record for the last few decades. - North Korea supplied up to 50% of Russia's artillery ammunition needs and approximately 22,000 military personnel. - Part of Kim Jong Un's income is blocked abroad due to sanctions, but the regime gained access to technology and food. - A North Korean missile unit is being formed in the Voronezh region, strengthening the military alliance with Russia. In August 2026, the economic landscape of North Korea underwent radical changes, a direct consequence of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. According to the latest data provided by Bloomberg Economics analysts, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un managed to extract colossal benefits from the conflict. Between 2022 and 2025, Pyongyang's revenue from cooperation with Moscow amounted to $22 billion. This sum radically altered the financial situation in the isolated country, providing the regime with resources it could not have dreamed of during a period of strict international sanctions. ### Economic Renaissance and a "Lottery Win" Experts characterize North Korea's current position as the strongest in the last 35 years. Andrei Lankov, director of the consulting firm Korea Risk Group, describes the revenue from arms sales to Russia as a "lottery win." At the same time, the restored support from China, in particular from President Xi Jinping, is viewed as a reliable "pension" for the regime. The Korea Bank forecasts North Korea's economic growth at 3.5% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of positive dynamics. Although the growth rate has slowed compared to the record-breaking 2024, it demonstrates the resilience of the new economic model based on military-technical exports. ### Supply Structure: From Shells to Manpower The foundation of this economic boom is unprecedented military cooperation. When Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow turned to Pyongyang for supplies of Soviet-era artillery shells. North Korean stockpiles became a valuable resource that Kim Jong Un converted into cash, food aid, and advanced military technology. According to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, by the end of 2025, North Korea was supplying up to 50% of Russia's needs for 122mm and 152mm ammunition. Furthermore, Pyongyang sent between 16,000 and 22,000 military personnel to Russia, receiving approximately $2,000 per month for each soldier. ### Navy Modernization and Nuclear Potential The capital obtained was directed by Kim Jong Un towards the rapid expansion of his own military potential. Over the last two years, the country has unveiled two destroyers with a displacement of 5,000 tonsβ€”the largest warships in North Korean history. At least one of these ships is equipped with the Russian "Pantsir-M" air defense system, valued at $20 million. Parallel to this, North Korea has refined the design of ballistic missiles, creating its own modifications. This opens up the possibility for Pyongyang to seek new arms buyers outside the Russian Federation, which could become the next stage in monetizing their armed forces. ### Contradictory Data Despite the obvious influx of resources, there are discrepancies in assessing the real state of the economy. On one hand, Bloomberg analysts and experts like Lankov speak of an unprecedented strengthening of the regime. On the other hand, a significant portion of the $22 billion, according to Bloomberg, remains outside North Korea. Since Kim Jong Un is blocked in the international banking system, some payments are made not as direct money transfers but through the transfer of goods and technology. This creates uncertainty: to what extent are these assets actually accessible to the population, and what is their liquidity within a country where the economy is still state-controlled? ### Diplomatic Diversification and New Threats Capitalizing on the situation, Kim Jong Un is striving to reduce his diplomatic dependence solely on Russia. Over the last year, Pyongyang has been visited by high-level delegations from Singapore, Indonesia, Belarus, and Vietnam. However, despite attempts at diversification, North Korea's military presence in Russia remains a key factor. According to the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence, a North Korean missile unit is being deployed in western Russia, in the Voronezh region. It may include about 90 military personnel and six launchers with 120 ballistic missiles. Russia has likely received a new batch of missiles and started using them more actively after an almost year-long hiatus, confirming the depth of the military alliance. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How much money did North Korea earn from the war in Ukraine? **A:** According to Bloomberg Economics, between 2022 and 2025, the North Korean leader's revenue amounted to $22 billion. ### Q: How has the North Korean economy changed? **A:** North Korea's economy showed 3.5% growth in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of growth and the best indicator in the last 35 years. ### Q: What exactly did North Korea supply to Russia? **A:** Pyongyang supplied artillery shells (up to 50% of Russia's needs) and also sent between 16,000 and 22,000 military personnel. ### Q: Where are the North Korean troops located in Russia? **A:** According to intelligence, a North Korean missile unit with 90 military personnel and 120 ballistic missiles is being formed in the Voronezh region.