North Korea rails against markets. But its policies show it can live with them.



Columns North Korea rails against markets. But its policies show it can live with them. DPRK authorities did little to curtail flourishing seafood trade for years, only to reverse course during the pandemic Andrei Lankov May 12, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean boy holds up a plastic bag filled with fish in Sept. 2012 \| Image: Eric Lafforgue The North Korean government has grappled for years with how to address the de facto privatization across many sectors of its economy. The spread of private ownership in the “socialist paradise” is ideologically unwelcome, generating potential instability for the Kim leadership. But Pyongyang also recognizes that private entrepreneurs generate much-need hard currency and other resources that the state cannot. The North Korean government has grappled for years with how to address the de facto privatization across many sectors of its economy. The spread of private ownership in the “socialist paradise” is ideologically unwelcome, generating potential instability for the Kim leadership. But Pyongyang also recognizes that private entrepreneurs generate much-need hard currency and other resources that the state cannot. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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North Korea rails against markets. But its policies show it can live with them.

DPRK authorities did little to curtail flourishing seafood trade for years, only to reverse course during the pandemic

Andrei Lankov May 12, 2023

North Korea rails against markets. But its policies show it can live with them.

A North Korean boy holds up a plastic bag filled with fish in Sept. 2012 | Image: Eric Lafforgue

The North Korean government has grappled for years with how to address the de facto privatization across many sectors of its economy.

The spread of private ownership in the “socialist paradise” is ideologically unwelcome, generating potential instability for the Kim leadership. But Pyongyang also recognizes that private entrepreneurs generate much-need hard currency and other resources that the state cannot.

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North Korea rails against markets. But its policies show it can live with them.

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