Bloomberg: Kim Jong-un Has Accumulated $22 Billion Since 2022
- 7.08.2026, 16:28
The increase in North Korea's revenue is primarily due to arms shipments from Russia.
Between 2022 and 2026, North Korea’s foreign earnings reached $22 billion, a fourfold increase compared to the previous four years. These figures come from the analytical service Bloomberg, based on an analysis of trade reports, intelligence data, satellite imagery, information from sources, and other data. BE analysts note that as a result, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “now has more money at his disposal than ever before in his 15 years in power.”
According to the service’s estimates, the growth in North Korea’s revenue is primarily linked to arms deliveries to Russia and the deployment of North Korean military personnel there. Experts interviewed by BE noted that the funds received from arms sales to Russia have become a real “lottery win” for North Korea. At the same time, revenue from another of North Korea’s partners—China—has also increased. According to BE, another source of income is the theft of cryptocurrency by North Korean hackers. According to TRM Labs, hackers from North Korea are now responsible for about 70% of all cryptocurrency thefts worldwide—up from 30% in 2017.
According to South Korean data, the North Korean economy grew by 3.5% last year. As Bloomberg reports, this growth in income is also reflected in everyday life in North Korea. There has been active construction there over the past few years. The number of smartphones among the population has increased significantly, and food delivery and taxi-hailing services have emerged. BE analysts note that the nature of exports from China also points to rising prosperity—for example, North Korea has begun actively purchasing sporting goods, video games, and other leisure items.