Content Author | NK PRO
November 08, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Ward

Peter Ward

Peter Ward is a research fellow at the Sejong Institute. His work focuses on North Korean politics, the economy and society. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna.

Analysis

How the Chinese economy is becoming more and more like North Korea’s

As Beijing turns less capitalist and market-friendly, it grows more unlikely the DPRK will embrace true economic reforms

Peter WardPeter WardJanuary 16, 2023
Analysis

How North Korea’s own military-industrial complex drives defense spending

Armed forces and munitions producers compete for resources but also have a shared interest in blocking demilitarization

Peter WardPeter WardJanuary 4, 2023
Analysis

The tragedy of the commons: Natural resource dilemmas in North Korea

Neither the people nor the central government are incentivized to manage forests and oceans sustainably in the short run

Peter WardPeter WardDecember 5, 2022
Analysis

North Korea’s markets are not a revolutionary force for political change

DPRK entrepreneurs are dependent on and captive to state actors, giving them little incentive to challenge the regime

Peter WardPeter WardNovember 1, 2022
Analysis

Why North Korea’s shadow economy is not a solution to reform

Informal economic activity provides key products but has limited growth potential, while even reform is not a cure-all

Peter WardPeter WardOctober 28, 2022
Analysis

China’s economic slowdown bodes ill for North Korea and denuclearization efforts

Reduced consumer demand and increased risk aversion likely to impact DPRK sectors ranging from coal exports to tourism

Peter WardPeter WardOctober 12, 2022
Analysis

Kim Jong Un sets ambitious economic goals but has no real plan to achieve them

In latest speech, North Korean leader doubles down on decades-old proposals that have failed to fix incentive problems

Peter WardPeter WardSeptember 13, 2022
Analysis

The limits to tyranny: Why Kim Jong Un doesn’t actually have absolute power

A range of factors constrain the North Korean leader in practice, despite his supreme authority in principle

Peter WardPeter WardAugust 29, 2022
Analysis

Why are foreign exchange rates soaring in North Korea?

Global inflation, signs of looming food shortages may be driving forex market in DPRK

Peter WardPeter WardAugust 19, 2022
Analysis

The flaws in the Bank of Korea’s estimates of North Korean economic activity

Questionable assumptions underlie researchers’ methods and findings, as DPRK economy remains a statistical black hole

Peter WardPeter WardAugust 10, 2022
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