From: New Voice of Ukraine 🇺🇦
Sending troops to fight against Ukraine on Russia’s side has provided North Korea’s regime under Kim Jong Un with necessary funds and diplomatic leverage. However, this move also carries hidden risks for the dictator, particularly in relations with China, The New York Times reported on Dec. 17.
According to the report, Kim Jong Un receives food, oil, money, and modern weaponry systems worth billions of dollars from Russia in exchange for his troops. These assets help North Korea withstand international sanctions and modernize its military.
North Korea’s armed forces, one of the largest in the world, reportedly number 1.3 million personnel. Pyongyang has vast reserves of artillery shells, rockets, and other conventional weapons—many of which are outdated—as well as new ballistic missiles developed under Kim Jong Un’s ambitious armament program, the NYT noted.
In June 2024, Kim Jong Un and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense and cooperation agreement in Pyongyang. Shortly after, North Korea began sending troops to Russia.
Additionally, South Korean officials revealed that North Korea sent Russia 20,000 sea containers filled with weapons, including millions of artillery shells, newly developed ballistic missiles, rocket launchers, and long-range howitzers.
Voice of Ukraine 