North Korea’s markets are not a revolutionary force for political change



Analysis 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 Peter Ward November 1, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A revolutionary monument in Pyongyang \| Image: NK News (Nov. 23, 2017) Some North Korea watchers have held out hope that the country’s unofficial markets, which sprang up during the famine years of the 1990s and expanded in the initial years of Kim Jong Un’s rule, might one day serve as a driver of political change. But a closer look at the realities on the ground in the DPRK and the assumptions of those who entertain such a possibility indicates that this is unlikely to be the case. An NK Pro analysis reveals that: There are roughly three different types of entrepreneurs in North Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01New North Korean ICBM delivers big political message, and likely bigger payloads 02How North Korea-Russia ties will challenge next US president, no matter who wins 03What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won 04What to know about Kim Yong Bok, the man leading North Korean troops in Russia 05If Trump: How erratic leader’s reelection could scramble North Korea policy 06North Korea’s admission of drone incursion exposes glaring gaps in air defenses 07The war in Ukraine is transforming how Europe perceives North Korean threats 08What North Korea stands to gain by sending troops to fight in Ukraine 09Satellite imagery shows DPRK laid explosives at edge of MDL to destroy roads 10Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense

Analysis

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

Peter Ward November 1, 2022

North Korea’s markets are not a revolutionary force for political change

A revolutionary monument in Pyongyang | Image: NK News (Nov. 23, 2017)

Some North Korea watchers have held out hope that the country’s unofficial markets, which sprang up during the famine years of the 1990s and expanded in the initial years of Kim Jong Un’s rule, might one day serve as a driver of political change.

But a closer look at the realities on the ground in the DPRK and the assumptions of those who entertain such a possibility indicates that this is unlikely to be the case.

An NK Pro analysis reveals that:

There are roughly three different types of entrepreneurs in North

01New North Korean ICBM delivers big political message, and likely bigger payloads
02How North Korea-Russia ties will challenge next US president, no matter who wins
03What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won
04What to know about Kim Yong Bok, the man leading North Korean troops in Russia
05If Trump: How erratic leader’s reelection could scramble North Korea policy
06North Korea’s admission of drone incursion exposes glaring gaps in air defenses
07The war in Ukraine is transforming how Europe perceives North Korean threats
08What North Korea stands to gain by sending troops to fight in Ukraine
09Satellite imagery shows DPRK laid explosives at edge of MDL to destroy roads
10Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense

North Korea’s markets are not a revolutionary force for political change

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Peter Ward