Moscow: A South Korean report has shed light on the imbalanced nature of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, despite their increasing collaboration.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Korea Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has revealed that North Korea has supplied Russia with weapons and troops valued at approximately $10 billion, as part of their agreement to support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The report indicates that North Korea has provided an array of military resources, including weapons, ammunition, and troops, amounting to around $9.8 billion. This figure represents more than a third of North Korea’s estimated annual economic output since 2023. In exchange, Russia’s compensation to North Korea is significantly lower, estimated at $1.2 billion. This compensation largely comprises food and oil aid, along with a limited number of air defense systems, GPS jammers, and potential fighter jets.

The report further highlights the lack of evidence supporting concerns that Russia has been directly aiding North Korea’s technological modernization. It underscores that North Korea’s economy continues to struggle under this lopsided arrangement. The estimated value of military assistance between the two nations is about half of what the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses had previously projected, with prior estimates suggesting Russian assistance could reach $20 billion.

Despite the unequal nature of their partnership, the report emphasizes that the rapid expansion of relations between Pyongyang and Moscow suggests a strong potential for continued cooperation beyond the conclusion of the war in Ukraine.