North Korea receives money, food and space technology from Russia in exchange for soldiers, South Korean lawmaker says

North Korea is expected to receive money, food and space technology from Russia as compensation for joining the war on its side, The Korea Herald reported Nov. 3, citing a lawmaker familiar with the matter.

North Korea reportedly sent 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia, with the first soldiers supposedly already come under fire in the Kursk region.

It is believed that North Korean soldiers receive $2,000 a month from Russia for their service, which adds up to at least $200 million a year if you count 10,000 soldiers, Wie Soon Lak, Member South Korean Parliamentary Intelligence Committee reported Korean Herald.

Moscow is also believed to have helped solve North Korea’s food shortages, the lawmaker said, citing intelligence briefings.

“The 4 million tons of grain that North Korea says it produces a year is actually about 1 million tons less than what it needs to feed the country. If Russia offers 600,000 to 700,000 tons of rice, that would be enough to cover more than half of what North Korea would need to meet annual demand,” the Herald quoted the lawmaker as saying.

According to The Korea Herald, South Korean intelligence believes Russia is also helping North Korea with advanced space technology, allowing Pyongyang to launch another military reconnaissance satellite.

Moscow plans form At least five units numbering 2-3 thousand people are staffed by North Korean troops, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Sergei Kislitsa said on October 30. They will be equipped with Russian uniforms and weapons and integrated into formations with ethnic minorities from the Far Russian region. The eastern regions are hiding their presence.

Some 8,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to the Kursk region of Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference on October 31.

Read also: China knew in advance about the entry of North Korean troops, says expert

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