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More articles by 'Peter Ward'
China’s economic slowdown bodes ill for North Korea and denuclearization efforts
Reduced consumer demand and increased risk aversion likely to impact DPRK sectors ranging from coal exports to tourism
October 12, 2022
Kim Jong Un sets ambitious economic goals but has no real plan to achieve them
In latest speech, North Korean leader doubles down on decades-old proposals that have failed to fix incentive problems
September 13, 2022
The limits to tyranny: Why Kim Jong Un doesn’t actually have absolute power
A range of factors constrain the North Korean leader in practice, despite his supreme authority in principle
August 29, 2022
Why are foreign exchange rates soaring in North Korea?
Global inflation, signs of looming food shortages may be driving forex market in DPRK
August 19, 2022
The flaws in the Bank of Korea’s estimates of North Korean economic activity
Questionable assumptions underlie researchers’ methods and findings, as DPRK economy remains a statistical black hole
August 10, 2022
How Kim Jong Un created space for North Korean firms to set prices — with limits
Documents show DPRK leader reinstated agreed price system his father rolled back but stopped short of true free market
August 2, 2022
How North Korean businesses skirted state-set price controls to survive
Collapse of Soviet Union led Pyongyang to create markets for enterprises to trade, but a backlash rolled back reforms
July 21, 2022
North Korea’s largest-ever banknote signals changes underfoot in monetary system
50,000-won denomination appears to be result of state efforts to push enterprises away from using foreign currency
June 22, 2022
How COVID-19 and drought shaped North Korea’s priorities at latest party plenum
Leadership signaled focus on agriculture and construction as it deals with effects of long-term trade shutdown
June 13, 2022
Factor markets: Who really owns the land, labor and capital in North Korea?
Actual control and right to buy and sell are increasingly determined by access to funds, not by state fiat
June 6, 2022
