Posts Tagged ‘Rudiger Frank’
Changes in North Korea: For Better or Worse?
A recent New York Times article on change in North Korea under Kim Jong Un emphasized a lack of progress for the majority. The facts cited in the article were most likely true, with the usual caveat concerning any information about that country. Many important observations were also made, such as spiking prices, the emergence of speculators, [...]
An Atmosphere of Departure and Two Speeds, Korean Style: Where is North Korea Heading?
The Country Is Changing Not that it has ever been static, but within the few months between my travels to North Korea in spring and autumn of this year, the country has changed to the degree that even a foreign visitor cannot avoid noticing. While in April, everyone seemed to be somewhat tense and edgy, unsure about what would happen under the [...]
A Question of Interpretation: Economic Statistics From and About North Korea
Reading Aidan Foster-Carter’s “Budget Blanks and Blues,” I feel inspired to add my own slightly more optimistic thoughts on the analytical value of North Korean annual budget reports, in particular, if contrasted with statistics on its economy in general, a quagmire I have been dealing with for almost two decades now. For an economist, it [...]
The World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012: Burmese Lessons for Korea?
The 21st World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 30 to June 1, 2012. As a member of its Global Agenda Council on Korea, I participated with the expectation that whenever issues like security or human rights were addressed, the focus would inevitably be on North Korea. I was wrong. Nevertheless, I found that [...]
North Korea in April: Defining the Future Under Kim Jong Un
April 2012 promises to be an interesting month for North Korea and its observers, with at least four mega-events. The long announced celebrations to mark the 100th birthday of the country’s late founder Kim Il Sung will be held on the April 15. Two days before, the annual session of the Supreme People’s Assembly (the North Korean parliament) [...]
North Korea after Kim Jong Il: The Risks of Improvisation
Kim Jong Il’s death was announced less than three weeks ago. But the world is surprisingly quickly getting used to the new leadership in North Korea, as if there were no concerns left at all. To provide a counterweight to this amazingly complacent mood, and the many speculations about a stable North Korean future (including my own), I’d like [...]
