A researcher from the Korea Institute for National Unification Jeon Byung Gon has re-iterated an oft-made claim, that Chinese success in the reform and opening of its economy could enlighten North Korea on the path to success.
Jeon released an analysis piece on the KINU website on the 15th entitled “North Korea and the 30 years of reformed and open China.” He suggested that China’s experience could help North Korea chose a way forward, although the respective scale of the nations, their industrial structures, features of their markets and their geographical situations are different.”
“Chinese experience of maintaining the party-led system and a socialist ideology while eventually achieving economic development could be a good example for North Korea.”
Despite the July 1st Economic Management Reform Measure, North Korea has not escaped poverty because it was bent on keeping its system through nuclear development, according to Jeon’s analysis. He stated in the analysis that the path of 30 years of Chinese reform and opening could be significant for North Korea.
“Especially, creating a reformist ideology proper for international trends, priming followers to reform policy based on technocrats, the normalization of relations with the U.S., reforming surroundings and the leader’s firm will to reform China at that time could all be significant to North Korea,” he concluded.
