North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s latest donation of $2 million worth of aid to Japanese affiliate group Chongryon has raised questions among analysts about how Pyongyang is able to transfer such large sums to Tokyo each year.

Despite global sanctions prohibiting North Korea from accessing the global banking system, Kim Jong Un has since 2012 sent “educational funds” and “stipends” worth around $2 million per transaction to celebrate the April 15 anniversary of founding leader Kim Il Sung’s birth. 

Official state media has trumpeted these donations annually, with an April 14, 2021 report stating that Kim approved a