How international sanctions have — and haven't — affected North Korea's economy | NK News
NK News Logo
October 01, 2026Oct 01, 2026

Weapon Directory

Interviews

How international sanctions have — and haven’t — affected North Korea’s economy

Georgetown's Bill Brown talks sanctions, the next summit, and the DPRK's "two economies"

With a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump on the horizon, the spotlight has been on sticking points that seem to have stalled negotiations since their first meeting in June last year.

Washington and Pyongyang have publicly disagreed on international sanctions against the DPRK, with North Korea calling for rolling back the restrictions while the U.S. says the ball is in Pyongyang’s court.

Speaking to NK News, William Brown, adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and former Senior Advisor to the National Intelligence Manager for East Asia in