Russia and North Korea
Russia and North Korea have a strategic partnership and mutual assistance treaty. Their military cooperation has consequences for the war in Ukraine and East Asian security and faces opposition from Japan, the United States and South Korea.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed during Vladimir Putin's June 2024 visit to North Korea entered into force in December that year, according to Japan's 2025 Diplomatic Bluebook.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The military relationship goes beyond diplomatic contact: the Japanese report records North Korean weapons supplies and North Korean troops' participation in combat against Ukraine, attributed to the Japanese Government's assessment.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Russia to North Korea | ||
| Goods: North Korea to Russia | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Russia to North Korea | ||
| Export share: North Korea to Russia | ||
| Investment stock: Russia in North Korea | ||
| Investment stock: North Korea in Russia |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Russia | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| GDP per capita | 17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| GDP growth | 1 %2025 · WB | |
| Policy interest rate | 14 %2026-09-11 · CBR | |
| Inflation · annual average | 8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR | |
| Unemployment | 2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.55 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 1.68 %2025 · WB | |
| Population | 143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF | 26,571,0362025 · World Bank |
| Area | 17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 120,540 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
For Russia, GDP, population and GDP per capita are estimates from the same IMF (WEO) dataset for 2025. The per-capita figure published by the IMF is used, rather than a calculation of our own. The earlier World Bank series could not be reconciled and are not mixed with this dataset. Review: 2026-10-07. IMF data terms of use0
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personRussia: 2025 · Nominal GDP per capita in current USD · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Russia: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of Russia
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Russia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World Bank
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedRussia: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Bank of Russia · Published: 2026-09-16 · Year-on-year CPI. The commentary's 6.9% is annualised seasonally adjusted monthly growth and is not used here.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionRussia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.North Korea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPRussia: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleRussia: 2025 · Population from the WEO series; do not mix with a denominator from another source · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · IMF estimate (WEO). GDP, GDP per capita and population for this country come from the same WEO query for 2025; no separate GDP-per-capita figure has been calculated.North Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceRussia: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; territorial coverage as defined by the source · World Bank · FAONorth Korea: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Russia to North Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
North Korea to Russia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Contacts between people and relations between governments are distinct dimensions. Published counts appear in the table with their date and definition; a resident community is not inferred from trade or diplomatic representation. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Russia living in North Korea | ||
| Residents from North Korea living in Russia | ||
| Study and training: Russia in North Korea | ||
| Study and training: North Korea in Russia | ||
| Academic stays: Russia in North Korea | ||
| Academic stays: North Korea in Russia | ||
| Travel: Russia to North Korea | ||
| Travel: North Korea to Russia |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed during Vladimir Putin's June 2024 visit to North Korea entered into force in December that year, according to Japan's 2025 Diplomatic Bluebook. It includes mutual assistance if either party is attacked. [1] [2]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The military relationship goes beyond diplomatic contact: the Japanese report records North Korean weapons supplies and North Korean troops' participation in combat against Ukraine, attributed to the Japanese Government's assessment. In Tokyo on 12 June 2026, Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed to coordinate their response to advancing cooperation and addressed North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and cyber activities. [1] [2]
Treaty and military cooperation according to Japan
Japan's 2025 Diplomatic Bluebook records Vladimir Putin's June 2024 visit to North Korea and signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which entered into force in December that year. The Japanese document describes a mutual assistance clause if either party is attacked. It also attributes weapons and ammunition transfers, including ballistic missiles, and deployment of North Korean troops to fight against Ukraine to Russian–North Korean cooperation. This description and risk assessment come from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral document — RUS-PRK
Japan MOFA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bilateral relations — RUS-PRK
Japan MOFA · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08