Nine-member team conquers 6,050m Thalo Zom

North Korea’s economy expanded by more than three percent in 2025 for the third consecutive year, according to new estimates released by South Korea’s central bank. The report suggests that stronger economic and military cooperation with Russia played a major role in boosting growth despite North Korea’s continued international isolation. The Bank of Korea, which has published annual estimates of North Korea’s economy since 1991 because Pyongyang does not release official economic data, estimated that the country’s real gross domestic product grew by 3.5 percent last year. The report valued North Korea’s economy at approximately 38.26 trillion won, or about 26.6 billion dollars. According to Bank of Korea officials, expanded cooperation with Russia was one of the main reasons for the improvement. Analysts have said North Korea has strengthened ties with Moscow by supplying troops and military equipment for Russia’s war in Ukraine. In return, Pyongyang is believed to have received financial assistance, food supplies, energy resources and military technology. A Bank of Korea official said increased weapons exports to Russia supported growth in North Korea’s manufacturing sector. The official also noted that a rise in Russian tourists and improved transport links between the two countries contributed to stronger performance in construction and service industries. The report estimated that North Korea’s exports increased by 30 percent during 2025, reaching around 470 million dollars. Among the leading export products were prepared feathers and wigs, along with toys and sporting goods. Although the report did not identify all exported items, officials said stronger overseas sales contributed significantly to economic growth. The latest figures were released as reports continued to highlight growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Ukraine’s military intelligence, quoted by the Kyiv Independent, claimed that more than 7,000 North Korean troops were killed or wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces during military operations in Russia’s Kursk region between 2024 and 2025. Neither Russia nor North Korea has independently confirmed those figures. Separately, the Ukrainian human rights organisation Truth Hounds said Russia and North Korea are close to completing their first road bridge connecting the two countries. The group said such a link could strengthen military and economic cooperation by allowing easier movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across the border. The Bank of Korea also reported a significant increase in North Korea’s gross national income, which measures the total income earned by a country’s residents. The estimate showed GNI rising by 9.4 percent to 48.5 trillion won, or approximately 33.8 billion dollars. Officials said the increase was supported by higher foreign currency earnings, including income linked to North Korean personnel sent to Russia. Despite the recent growth, North Korea’s economy remains extremely small compared with its southern neighbour. According to the Bank of Korea, North Korea’s gross national income is still less than two percent of South Korea’s economy, highlighting the large economic gap that continues to separate the two countries. The latest estimates suggest that while North Korea remains under international sanctions and largely isolated from global markets, its expanding partnership with Russia is providing new sources of economic activity that have helped sustain growth for a third straight year.

US intelligence agencies are examining whether Russia helped Iran carry out drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf, raising fresh concerns about growing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Officials are reviewing intelligence to determine whether Russia provided targeting information, advanced drone technology, or other forms of support that may have increased the accuracy of the attacks. According to sources familiar with the investigation, analysts have not reached any final conclusions about Russia’s involvement. However, the precision of the strikes and Russia’s long history of military and technical cooperation with Iran have led intelligence officials to explore whether Moscow played a direct role in planning or supporting the operations. The investigation follows a series of Iranian drone attacks that targeted sensitive US intelligence locations in the region. At least two CIA facilities were reportedly hit in March. One of the sites was located inside the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while another was in eastern Iraq. Officials familiar with the matter said additional CIA locations may also have been attacked, although they declined to reveal further details because of security concerns. Western intelligence officials have also reviewed reports suggesting that Russia may have assisted Iran in selecting the targets. One intelligence assessment reportedly concluded that Russia likely contributed to identifying regional CIA facilities, although officials stressed that the findings remain under review and have not been publicly confirmed. According to officials briefed on intelligence reports, the attack on the US Embassy compound in Riyadh involved two upgraded versions of Iran’s Shahed drones. They said one drone created an opening in the embassy’s outer structure while the second entered through the damaged area before exploding inside. No casualties were reported, but the operation demonstrated a level of accuracy that surprised intelligence analysts. The investigation comes as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high following months of military exchanges across the Middle East. American officials are also examining recent Iranian strikes on a US military base in Jordan where ballistic missiles killed two American soldiers. Those attacks have intensified concerns that Iran may be receiving more advanced military support from Russia. Analysts believe Russia has spent years helping Iran improve its drone capabilities. Intelligence sources say Moscow has assisted Tehran in increasing the range and precision of its Shahed drones through technical upgrades. Reports also suggest Russia supplied Iran with the Kometa M satellite navigation system, which is believed to provide greater accuracy and stronger resistance to electronic interference than Iran’s previous guidance systems. Russia has denied supplying the technology and dismissed earlier reports on the matter. The White House referred questions about the investigation to the CIA, which declined to comment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations, the Russian Defense Ministry, and Saudi authorities also did not respond to requests for statements. The exact number and locations of the targeted CIA facilities remain classified. Intelligence sources said more than one site but fewer than a dozen were struck during the attacks. Overseas CIA operations often include embassy based stations as well as secure facilities used for surveillance, logistics, intelligence gathering, and other sensitive missions. US analysts are also investigating whether Russia supplied the intelligence used to identify the Riyadh facility. Some officials remain cautious, noting that Iran may have intended to strike the US Embassy as a whole rather than specifically targeting the CIA station located within the compound. Others believe very few countries possess both the intelligence capabilities and the strategic motivation to identify and support attacks against such highly sensitive US facilities. Former CIA station chief Daniel Hoffman said closer military cooperation between Russia and Iran makes such assistance plausible. He argued that both countries share a common interest in reducing American influence across the Middle East and other regions where they seek greater strategic control. The investigation remains ongoing as US intelligence agencies continue to assess the available evidence.