Finally, it seems that the majority of North Korean observers have – somewhat belatedly – come to realize that over the last 10-15 years North Korea, in spite of all the noise it makes to the contrary, cannot be considered to be a socialist state. The private sector now produces between 25 percent and 50 percent of North Korea’s estimated GDP. Social inequality is large and growing, while the economic significance of the state continues to steadily decline.

However, when people talk about the North Korean private economy, they tend to concentrate on those lucky individuals who reap the greatest