Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in the war in Ukraine revealed the unequal character of their relationship, revealed a study by the German Liberal Foundation Friedrich Naumann (FNF). According to the DPA report, TASR reports this.
- The study revealed an uneven relationship between Russia and North Korea.
- North Korea provided Russia’s weapons, ammunition and soldiers.
- Russia, in return, delivered Pyongyang limited sources.
- The relationship is accompanied by tensions due to poor Russian coordination.
- Kim Jong-un shows dissatisfaction with Russian compensation.
A study entitled “Uneven Partnership” states that North Korea has provided Russia with a large number of weapons, ammunition and soldiers, while Moscow in exchange provided Pyongyang only limited resources with little visible impact on the North Korean economy.
Researcher Olena Guseinova estimates that Since 2023, North Korea has supplied Russia’s weapons worth at least $ 5.6 billion and sent to Ukraine to fight approximately 15,000 soldiers. According to official data, Russia sent a material worth between $ 450 million and $ 1.2 billion.
Pyongyang as a replacement received according to several sources Especially food and air defense systems. The FNF study therefore speaks of possible tension in this de facto military alliance.
According to DPA, this claim is also supported by the fact that Several high -ranking North Korean leaders allegedly criticized the Russian army for bad coordination and strategic mistakes at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. According to the South Korean NK News portal, this led to high losses in the lives of North Korean soldiers, of which Pyongyang blamed Moscow.
The South Korean secret service NIS states that According to her information in the war in Ukraine, about 2000 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives so far. According to DPA, some NIS officials said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not satisfied with Russian compensations for their help in war. The countries signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2024, which also contained a mutual assistance clause in the event of a military assault.
