North Korea's Economic Growth Exceeds 3% for the Third Consecutive Year; Cooperation with Russia Likely a Factor

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

北朝鮮 経済成長率が3年連続3％超え ロシアとの協力が要因か

2026年7月31日17:29

北朝鮮情勢

韓国の中央銀行は31日、北朝鮮経済の去年の成長率が推計で3.5％だったと発表しました。

成長率が3％を超えるのは3年連続で、ロシアとの経済協力の拡大が要因だと分析しています。

韓国の中央銀行にあたる韓国銀行は31日、北朝鮮のGDP＝国内総生産の伸び率について推計した結果を発表しました。

それによりますと、去年の伸び率は実質でプラス3.5％で、3年連続で3％を超えました。

業種別では

▽製造業がプラス6.6％だったほか

▽建設業がプラス6.3％などとなっています。

北朝鮮の去年1年間の輸出入額は総額が31億3000万ドル、日本円にして5000億円余りと推計され、前の年と比べて16％増加したとしています。

北朝鮮が経済成長を続けているとみられることについて、韓国銀行は「特にロシアとの経済協力の拡大が経済成長に大きな影響を及ぼした」との見方を示しました。

そのうえで「武器輸出が増え製造業の関連産業の生産量が増加したほか、ロシアからの観光客増加などによりサービス業も伸びた」と分析しています。

Translation

North Korea's Economic Growth Exceeds 3% for the Third Consecutive Year; Cooperation with Russia Likely a Factor

July 31, 2026, 17:29

North Korea Situation

The Bank of Korea announced on the 31st that North Korea's economic growth rate for last year was estimated at 3.5%.

This marked the third consecutive year that the growth rate had exceeded 3%, and the Bank of Korea attributed this to the expansion of economic cooperation with Russia.

The Bank of Korea, South Korea's central bank, released its estimates for North Korea's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate on the 31st.

According to the estimates, last year's real growth rate was +3.5%, exceeding 3% for the third consecutive year.

By sector,

▽Manufacturing grew at +6.6%, besides

▽Construction grew at +6.3%, etc.

North Korea's total exports and imports for last year were estimated at $3.13 billion, or over 500 billion yen, representing a 16% increase compared to the previous year.

Regarding North Korea's apparent continued economic growth, the Bank of Korea stated that "the expansion of economic cooperation with Russia, in particular, has had a significant impact on economic growth."

Furthermore, they analyzed that "increased arms exports led to increased production in manufacturing-related industries, and the service sector also grew due to factors such as an increase in tourists from Russia."

So, North Korea's economic growth rate last year is estimated at 3.5%. This marks the third consecutive year that the growth rate has exceeded 3%, and the Bank of Korea attributes this to the expansion of economic cooperation with Russia. Apparently, North Koreas is benefitting from Russia’s war with Ukraine.