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How North Korea makes money revealed, and where Russia might fit in

The money flowing into North Korea
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VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The money flowing into North Korea

Cut off from the rest of the world, North Korea's trade with foreign territories has largely been severed as a result of global sanctions. But Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and his elite still manage to enjoy lives of luxury while funding the state's "irreversible" nuclear mission. So where's all the money coming from?

Kim Jong-un’s much-publicised meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin hints at a relationship that North Korea may be benefiting from financially, but it’s not the only avenue that allows cash to flow into the so-called Hermit Kingdom.

Read on to find out how the tightening of ties with Russia could provide a lucrative boost to North Korea, and discover the other ways it makes money, from simple exports to more sinister methods. All dollar values in US dollars.

lovemoney staff

14 September 2023

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