Historically illegal and ideologically shameful, North Korean media almost never mentioned its country’s robust market system or the fact that they’re an integral part of the economy. 

But in recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expanded the role of markets by reforming state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the collective farm management system. Now, state media seems to be following suit by at least painting a more complex picture of markets and the government’s attitude towards them. 

This matters because growing central control is liable to choke off innovation, stifle any