The North Korean leadership is pursuing foreign investment and trade in a variety of ways, through larger projects like special economic zones (SEZs) and smaller-scale policy adjustments, Bradley Babson told NK News.

Babson, a former World Bank official who serves on the Executive Committee of the National Committee for North Korea, addressed some doubts about the status of two SEZs along the North Korea-China border – Hwanggumpyeong and Wihwa Islands – in the aftermath of Jang Song Thaek's purge. Jang’s absence, he said, is not the main issue now that North Korea is increasing foreign investment. Rather, there needs to be "a clear agreement about how to create the underpinnings for successful investment and infrastructure."