Etymology of the Korean currencies
The won is the currency of both North and South Korea. "Won" is a cognate of the Chinese currency unit, the yuan (//), and the Japanese currency unit, the yen (; ¥), meaning "round object". The won is subdivided into 100 jeon ().
North Korean support for Iran during the Iran–Iraq War
North Korea sold arms primarily as a source of foreign exchange. North Korea demanded the currency of its declared enemy, the United States, as payment. Sales ended only after North Korea's nuclear test, in October 2006, caused the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 embargo.