North Korea’s economy is at a crossroads. Some say that it is in the midst of a sanctions-induced recession, while others think that things may be far worse than that, with talk of a food crisis and growing elite discord.

However, what is clear is that after almost eight years in power, and five years of the Socialist Enterprise Responsibility Management System, Kim Jong Un should be given some options to deepen existing reforms. Here, let’s look at what can be done to make the lives of North Korea’s nascent capitalist class easier.[/p