My guess is, when two maximally demonised by western media states are doing some highly nefarious giving things, especially oil which is the holy grail of US brain and just "giving" it is sacrilege, then in reality they are trading.

Of course this is not what is implied here, they 100% mean this is payment for the so far completely invisible ~~1000~~, ~~10000~~, ~~13000~~, 100000 DPRK soldiers doing invisible things in Ukraine.