Although Western sanctions were designed to drain the “blood” of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's regime, billions of dollars are now flowing into Pyongyang, as per a Bloomberg Economics analysis, Bloomberg reports.

Thus, from 2022 to 2025, North Korea received up to $22 billion in foreign exchange earnings, which is about four times more than in the previous four years.

In the 15 years that he has been in power, Kim has never had so much money. The main source of income is the sale of weapons to Russia.

The Russia-Ukraine war alone has brought more than $14 billion to Kim's treasury. The remaining $8 billion came from other sources, including trade with China, the employment of North Koreans working abroad, IT services, cybercrime, and legal and illegal exports.

The largest share of this revenue came from arms sales. According to available data, $9.12 billion was brought in from artillery shells, $2.38 billion from heavy artillery, $1.27 billion from ballistic missiles, and $849 million from sending North Korean soldiers to Russia.

Kim is using the billions received to develop his nuclear and missile programs.

In the past two years, North Korea has unveiled its largest warships and modernized its ballistic missiles.