Trump may thwart Kim-Putin ambition on economic ties: Study

If Ukraine conflict ends, Russia and North Korea's need for each other may change

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SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's bet on Russia for economic support may end up backfiring if US President-elect Donald Trump manages to end Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, according to a study released by a South Korean government-affiliated think-tank.

Moscow has emerged as a prominent supporter of Mr. Kim's regime in 2024 and the two nations have beefed up their economic and military exchanges.

After supplying ammunitions to Russia, Pyongyang has in recent weeks dispatched troops to aid Moscow's war in Ukraine, officials in Washington and Seoul have said.

In return, Russia is providing money and helping North Korea increase its military capabilities.

The deepening alliance with Mr. Putin has given Mr. Kim an option to turn less to Beijing for diplomatic support.

But Pyongyang is still heavily dependent on China for its economic needs, according to the study led by Dr. Lee Jongkyu, a senior researcher at the Korea Development Institute.

North Korea imports more than 900 different types of products including trucks and medicine from China, while it buys only roughly 150 items, such as oil and gas, from Russia.