There has been much speculation about what North Korea may have received in exchange, with some Western military officials surmising that Russia had provided North Korea with advanced military technology, possibly including nuclear capabilities. Sources told the NYT that Russia had helped unblock $9 million in North Korean funds frozen at a Russian bank. While $9 million is still a rather small sum, access to the bank account, if true, would be an important asset to North Korea. The West has imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and other weapons tests, making it difficult for the country to engage in international trade or access financing. In some sense, experts said North Korea has already significantly benefitted from the newfound partnership by making itself the center of diplomatic conversations, even if the overall sentiment is largely one of concern.

Source: International New York Times February 06, 2024 14:38 UTC