North Korea Convenes Rare Party Conference
“All eyes are on Pyongyang this week, as the ruling Korean Workers Party is expected to hold a historic meeting of delegates. Media attention is focused on clues to succession plans, as well as indications of the fate of North Korea's nuclear program and the stalled Six Party Talks [aimed at disarming North Korea], soon to be entering deep freeze. But questions of politics and diplomacy should not entirely eclipse economics. There was a heavy emphasis on economics during both of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il's visits to China this year, and other indications that North Korea is on the cusp of some kind of departure in economic policy,” says Asia Society Senior Fellow John Delury.
John is now based in Seoul and was project director of Asia Society’s task force "North Korea Inside Out: The Case for Economic Engagement." To arrange an interview, contact the Asia Society communications department at 212-327-9271 or [email protected].