The security realignment in Asia has been a boon for North Korea

However, some 12 million North Koreans out of a population of 27 million are undernourished, according to the UN. And the heavily sanctioned centralized economy reported a trade volume of only US$2.7 billion in 2024. Due to multiple sanctions on trade, fake hair and wigs are North Korea’s primary export, most of which goes to China. By comparison, South Korea’s economy, at US$1.86 trillion, is almost 70 times bigger, according to Germany’s public broadcaster DW.