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More articles by 'Peter Ward'
Why Kim Jong Un’s farming ‘revolution’ will do little to curb food insecurity
At latest plenum, North Korea promised bright communist future but refused to address chronic structural issues
March 6, 2023
How North Korean state firms bend the rules to rake in cash from market activity
Newly revealed DPRK law details crackdown on use of special privileges to dodge taxes, embezzle funds and more
February 24, 2023
Blurred lines: Inside North Korea’s messy business ecosystem
Both state power and market forces shape the DPRK economy in ways that are only now coming into focus
February 15, 2023
Why North Korea is the ultimate sucker bet for would-be investors
Cheap labor and proximity to China are not enough to make DPRK preferable to alternatives like Vietnam and Indonesia
February 6, 2023
North Korea’s bleak budget for 2023 hints COVID and trade controls will stay
Officials expect just 1% revenue growth this year, betraying few hopes for improvements in pandemic economic situation
January 20, 2023
How the Chinese economy is becoming more and more like North Korea’s
As Beijing turns less capitalist and market-friendly, it grows more unlikely the DPRK will embrace true economic reforms
January 16, 2023
How North Korea’s own military-industrial complex drives defense spending
Armed forces and munitions producers compete for resources but also have a shared interest in blocking demilitarization
January 4, 2023
The tragedy of the commons: Natural resource dilemmas in North Korea
Neither the people nor the central government are incentivized to manage forests and oceans sustainably in the short run
December 5, 2022
North Korea’s markets are not a revolutionary force for political change
DPRK entrepreneurs are dependent on and captive to state actors, giving them little incentive to challenge the regime
November 1, 2022
Why North Korea’s shadow economy is not a solution to reform
Informal economic activity provides key products but has limited growth potential, while even reform is not a cure-all
October 28, 2022
