North Korea’s Economy Rebounds as Kim-Putin Ties Fuel Arms Trade
- North Korea’s real gross domestic product rose 3.1% in 2023
- Heavy industries lead growth, boosting Kim’s grip on power
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North Korea’s economy roared back to life as arms transfers with Russia provided support for Kim Jong Un’s regime, allowing the leader to shun diplomacy as he ramped up his threats against the US and South Korea.
North Korea’s gross domestic product expanded 3.1% in 2023 from a year earlier, ending a three-year streak of contractions and posting the biggest growth since 2016, according to estimates published Friday by South Korea’s central bank.