South Korea's Central Bank Reports North Korean Economy Grew 3.5% for Third Straight Year
North Korea's economy expanded by an estimated 3.5 percent in 2025, achieving growth for the third straight year. According to a report from South Korea’s Bank of Korea (BOK), this expansion was attributed primarily to increased economic cooperation with Russia and growing trade links with China. The BOK noted that these expanded ties and national policy projects helped push North Korea's real GDP past its 2017 level. While the apparent revival has drawn global attention, some analysts are debating the sustainability of the DPRK’s reported growth story.
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Is North Korea's economy really booming? Inside the debate over the DPRK's growth story
North Korea's apparent economic revival is drawing global attention. Here's what available data, satellite imagery and competing narratives reveal about the DPRK's growth story. North Korea is ...
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