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More articles by 'Peter Ward'
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
Why some North Koreans actually benefit from sanctions on their country
Measures targeting DPRK’s weapons programs can serve interests of security institutions, military and firms
May 31, 2022
Why North Korea’s pharmacies are unequipped to confront COVID-19
Private market actors are necessary for the DPRK’s drug distribution system to function, but supplies are highly limited
May 26, 2022
Russia faces North Korea-level sanctions, but can’t escape them like Pyongyang
Russia’s economy is far larger and more connected to the rest of the world than the DPRK’s
April 26, 2022
Why urbanized, well-educated North Korea remains paradoxically poor
While the DPRK compares favorably with wealthier countries on some metrics, political decisions still hobble the economy
April 11, 2022
