As of November 22, 2024, Russia has reportedly sent over 1 million barrels of oil to North Korea since March 2024, according to the Open Source Centre's analysis based on satellite images. The data indicates that more than a dozen North Korean tankers completed 43 voyages between a Russian oil terminal in the Far East and North Korean ports over the past eight months.
Satellite imagery reveals that these tankers traveled to Russia empty and returned loaded. The first documented shipment occurred on March 7, following reports of North Korean munitions being sent to Russia. The latest shipment was recorded on November 5, coinciding with reports of North Korean troops being deployed to the Kursk region.
Analysts suggest that this continuous influx of oil provides North Korea with a level of stability not seen since international sanctions were imposed due to its nuclear weapons development. North Korea is restricted to purchasing no more than 500,000 barrels of oil annually, making the 1 million barrels sent by Russia a relatively small volume compared to Russia's daily production, which is nearly ten times that amount.
Previously, sources from The Times reported that North Korea supplies approximately 3 million shells annually to Russia, accounting for half of the ammunition used by the Russian military in its conflict with Ukraine. In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that North Korean soldiers were sent to assist Russia, a statement later confirmed by South Korean intelligence and the Pentagon. Reports suggest that up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers may have been deployed to Russia, with Moscow allegedly paying $2,000 per soldier, equivalent to 83 years of an average North Korean citizen's salary.
In November, the U.S. State Department stated that most of the North Korean soldiers sent to assist Russia are already engaged in combat in the Kursk region. The New York Times previously reported that Russia has assembled a force of 50,000 personnel, including North Korean troops, for a counteroffensive in Kursk, part of which has been occupied by Ukrainian forces since August.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea and signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Kim Jong-un, effectively solidifying a military alliance between the two nations. According to Article 4 of this agreement, in the event of an attack on one party, the other is obligated to provide military assistance by all means available.