North Korean Economy – The Diplomat

‘Dollarization’ of North Korean Economy, Once Vital, Now Potential Threat to Kim’s Rule

Hyung-jin Kim — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 00:04:00 +0900

Defectors say an attempt to end use of U.S. dollars and Chinese yuan would likely just cause chaos.

What Is the Truth About COVID-19 in North Korea?

Mitch Shin — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 04:15:00 +0900

North Korea insists there have been no coronavirus cases in the country. So why does it keep tightening restrictions, despite the heavy cost?

Kim Jong Un Visits Samjiyon County Ahead of Supreme People's Assembly Meeting

Ankit Panda — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:39:00 +0900

The North Korean leader conducted his first on-site survey in 2019.

The Hanoi US-North Korea Summit: Why Pyongyang’s Crippled Economy Is Central

Gianluca Spezza and Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 08:47:00 +0900

What comes after a peace declaration with North Korea, and can it salvage the country’s economy?

Making Sense of North Korea's Nuclear-Free Foundation Day Military Parade: First Takeaways

Ankit Panda — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 14:10:00 +0900

North Korea chose not to parade its nuclear-capable missiles. What does that say?

Korea’s Peace Dividend

Anthony Fensom — Mon, 07 May 2018 22:26:00 +0900

What are the economic implications of the recent thaw in inter-Korea relations?

One Belt, One Road, One Korea?

Maximilian Römer — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 00:27:00 +0900

Together, China’s Belt and Road and South Korea’s Eurasia Initiative could help pave the path to peace on the peninsula.

December 2017 Sanctions on North Korea: Business as Usual?

Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 22:35:00 +0900

New sanctions are unlikely to significantly change the status quo on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Jong-un Emphasizes Economic Self-Reliance After Sanctions

Ankit Panda — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 05:26:00 +0900

North Korea's supreme leader outlined the salience of economic self-reliance in a recent speech.

Market Prices in North Korea Rise Sharply After Recent Sanctions and Tensions

Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 23:20:00 +0900

North Korea’s domestic economy may be very resilient but it is not beyond the reach of international tensions.

Sorry, an Oil Embargo Won’t Lead to North Korea’s Capitulation

Paul Musgrave and Yu-Ming Liou — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 11:10:00 +0900

Conventional wisdom on the effectiveness of oil embargoes is mistaken.

Will Marketization Bring Down the North Korean Regime?

Jonathan Corrado — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 00:01:00 +0900

The Kim regime has turned its new economic elites into an increasingly important source of revenue.

How Does North Korea Survive?

Rob Edens — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 02:48:00 +0900

A closer look at Pyongyang's modus operandi.

Byungjin in Play? North Korea's Top Economic Officials Meet for First Time Since 2006

Ankit Panda — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 07:55:00 +0900

News from North Korea continues to suggest that Kim Jong-un is serious about making byungjin work.

When 'Sunshine' Ruled on the Korean Peninsula

Felix Abt — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 23:44:00 +0900

Remembering a period of unprecedented cooperation between the two Koreas, despite being technically still at war.

When Capitalism Came to North Korea

Felix Abt — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:07:00 +0900

How a Chinese businessman helped spark North Korea’s pharmaceutical industry.

It's Official: China Is Cracking Down on North Korean Trade

Shannon Tiezzi — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 02:35:00 +0900

China's Commerce Ministry announces bans on imports of gold, coal, and iron from North Korea.

The Other Side of Corruption in North Korea

Jonathan Corrado — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:09:00 +0900

It could be argued that more pervasive corruption is leading to new freedoms.

North Korea’s H-Bomb Test: The (Impossible) Economic Context

Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 02:08:00 +0900

Kim Jong-un wants to both build a hydrogen bomb and develop North Korea’s economy. It won’t work.

How Is North Korea's Economy Doing?

John Power — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 22:30:00 +0900

A recent report suggests North Korea's economy is making progress. Can we know for sure?

Can Capitalism Take Off in North Korea?

Hy-sang Lee — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:26:00 +0900

Flirtations with capitalism need to overcome a rigid ideology.

Kim Jong-un’s North Korea

Daniel Mendez — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:29:00 +0900

Life under the youthful leader has been marked by only modest change.

North Korea Slams Xi Jinping and the Chinese Dream

Zachary Keck — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 06:20:00 +0900

Reports suggest that North Korea continues to distance itself from China under Xi Jinping.

North Korea’s Resource Headache

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:11:36 +0900

North Korea has trillions of dollars worth of natural resources by some estimates. But could that be a curse?