Article #158
The report is suggesting a coming crisis in North Korea as Kim Jong Un struggles 12 months on from his decision to sever almost all of North Korea’s land, sea and air links in response to the coronavirus outbreak in China.
The example of Vietnam and China shows that a mix of state capitalism and authoritarian Party rule gets results. Kim is missing the former as fears mount of food, security and economic collapse following border closures, economic sanctions and serious flooding. Additionally, the autumn harvest has been consumed and there are still three months to go before 2021 crops begin to appear.
Is there growing instability? Are people losing their livelihood? Will protests begin? In the meantime, Kim accelerates his nuclear weapons development.
The FT reports that Glyn Ford, a former member of the European Parliament with links to decision-makers in Pyongyang says market thinking is happening but US General Adams has warned of food insecurity if fertiliser imports from China are blocked at the border. Instability threatens with big regional + world consequences
