Russia and South Korea
Russia's military cooperation with North Korea is a central issue for Seoul. Earlier economic connections do not remove security concerns. The profile distinguishes the Russia–South Korea relationship from Russia's treaties and activities with the DPRK.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07The Russia–North Korea agreement
The Korean diplomatic institute's assessment examines the strategic treaty signed in June 2024 by Russia and the DPRK.
The peninsula and the war in Ukraine
The 2024 ministerial statement links Russia–North Korea military cooperation to both European and Indo-Pacific security.
Monitoring the Russia–North Korea relationship
The statement documents the intention to monitor and expose cooperation that its signatories consider contrary to international resolutions.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 10,937.03 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR |
| Goods: Russia to South Korea | 6,895.67 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR |
| Goods: South Korea to Russia | 4,041.36 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Russia to South Korea | ||
| Export share: South Korea to Russia | 0.57 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR |
| Investment stock: Russia in South Korea | ||
| Investment stock: South 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.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR · Goods; full year; KOR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Russia to South Korea
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR · Goods; full year; KOR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: South Korea to Russia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR · Goods; full year; KOR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: South Korea to Russia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / KOR · Goods share: KOR exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Year-on-year inflation: different periods or frequencies; the two figures are not directly comparable.
| Indicator | Russia | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 2.59 trillion USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 1.87 trillion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 17,972.12 USDIMF est.2025 · IMF | 36,226.97 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 1 %2025 · WB | 1.01 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 14 %2026-09-11 · CBR | 3 %2026-08-27 · Bank of Korea |
| Inflation · annual average | 8.72 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 2.12 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 6.33 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · CBR | 2.9 %Headline CPI · 2026-09 · year-on-year · Ministry of Data and Statistics |
| Unemployment | 2.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 2.68 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -1.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 17.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 52.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 1.68 %2025 · WB | 6.57 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 143,997,000IMF est.2025 · IMF | 51,684,5642025 · WB |
| Area | 17,125,190 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 100,450 km²2023 · WB |
| 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.South Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- 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.South Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Russia: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Russia: 2026-09-11 · Bank of Russia policy rate · Bank of RussiaSouth Korea: 2026-08-27 · Base Rate · Bank of Korea · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Russia: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- 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.South Korea: 2026-09 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · Ministry of Data and Statistics · Published: 2026-10-02 · Official monthly data. Not mixed with the annual average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionRussia: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.South Korea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Korea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Russia: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Korea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPRussia: 2025 · World BankSouth Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- 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.South Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- 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 · FAOSouth Korea: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.
- 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 South Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 3,486.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 9.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 2.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 1.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 0.2 M USD2025 · Source |
South Korea to Russia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Land vehicles and components | 1,151.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 403.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 213.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 80.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 51.2 M USD2025 · Source |
Connections between people
Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [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 South Korea | ||
| Residents from South Korea living in Russia | ||
| Study and training: Russia in South Korea | ||
| Study and training: South Korea in Russia | ||
| Academic stays: Russia in South Korea | ||
| Academic stays: South Korea in Russia | ||
| Travel: Russia to South Korea | ||
| Travel: South 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.
The Russia–North Korea agreement
The Korean diplomatic institute's assessment examines the strategic treaty signed in June 2024 by Russia and the DPRK. Its provisions affect South Korea's security environment even though Seoul is not a party to the instrument. The description and analysis belong to the Korean institution; the treaty must not be confused with an agreement between Russia and South Korea. [1]
The peninsula and the war in Ukraine
The 2024 ministerial statement links Russia–North Korea military cooperation to both European and Indo-Pacific security. The signatory governments denounce violations of Security Council resolutions and express concern about transfers. This is an official position with identified issuers, distinct from independently confirming every shipment, quantity and date. [2]
Trade data do not measure military alignment
The goods in the table constitute an annual economic observation from one reporter. They do not by definition include all affiliates' sales or establish the state of military cooperation. Trade measures and business decisions may follow timelines different from diplomatic statements. Separating these dimensions avoids interpreting a residual flow as South Korean support for Russian policy. [1]
The scale of the two economies
Russia recorded nominal GDP of 2,587.9 billion USD in 2025, compared with 1,872.4 in 2025 for South Korea. The reference populations were 144 million (2025) and 51.68 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, Russia's nominal GDP was 1.38 times South Korea's. These figures contextualise market size; they do not by themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or population extrapolations retain their labels in the table. No ratio is calculated when periods do not match. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Monitoring the Russia–North Korea relationship
The statement documents the intention to monitor and expose cooperation that its signatories consider contrary to international resolutions. Its content is a security agenda, not a bilateral economic result. The 2025 statistics accompany that context with their own date. The profile does not turn a 2024 analysis into verification of every subsequent military operation. [2]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between Russia and South Korea totalled 10,937 million USD. Shipments from Russia to South Korea were 6,895.7 million USD; those in the reverse direction were 4,041.4 million USD. South Korea's shipments to the partner represented 0.57% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs reporting source is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or affiliates' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- Assessment of the Russia–North Korea partnership
Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security / South Korea MOFA · Institutional source · Document: 2024 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Ministerial statement on Russia–DPRK cooperation
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2024 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 410; partners 0,643,704,360
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
IMF — World Economic Outlook · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / KOR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / KOR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / KOR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / KOR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / KOR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / KOR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 410; partners 643,704,360; X/M; annual goods.