After being deployed to the front, Russia will pay North Korean soldiers $2000 per month, reported the newspaper The Korea Herald citing South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS). According to NIS estimates, a total of 10,000 North Korean military personnel will be in Ukraine, meaning the expenses for this contingent could amount to $20 million per month. Additionally, as the publication claims, about 4,000 North Korean workers are employed in Russia, earning approximately $800 per month.
Furthermore, North Korea may receive 600-700 thousand tons of rice from Russia—much more than Pyongyang previously received (50–100 thousand tons). North Korea itself produces about 4 million tons of grain per year, one million tons less than needed. Such a large supply from Russia could partially solve the hunger problem. This issue could also be resolved through arms sales. By selling several containers of artillery shells, Pyongyang could afford much more than hundreds of thousands of tons of rice, experts believe.
Last week, NIS also reported that Russia is also assisting North Korea with advanced space technologies as Pyongyang seeks to launch another military reconnaissance satellite.
However, the most important part of the deal between Russia and North Korea, analysts believe, is the possibility of involving Russia in combat operations in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.