Changes in North Korea: For Better or Worse?

For the most part I agree with Frank's conclusion but I think he is really reaching by his analysis that the disparity in economic benefits shows that the regime is improving somewhat. 

 He recognizes the horrific nature of the regime and we should never forget that.  I would like to believe in hope and change in north Korea and would even give the regime some benefit of the doubt if they could demonstrate improvement of more than just the lives of the elite and what some people are now referring to as the "Republic of Pyongyang." Maybe Kim Jong-un really is enlightened from his education in Europe but I fear the nature of the system is such that even if he wants to truly reform he may not be able to.  I believe a balanced assessment of the regime will end up showing that it cannot change and thus will continue to ensure the enslavement of some 23 million people.

• Serious concerns remain: the nuclear program, massive human rights violations and starvation. Many North Koreans can only dream about the increasingly luxurious life in Pyongyang, which so far remains the exception and in many regards a facade, even though some improvements seem to be trickling down. In particular, the remote areas to the north and northeast, and even the breadbasket regions south of the capital, according to the World Food Program, suffer from serious shortages of essential goods. All this and more is true and should be repeated on every occasion. But it is not the full story. We need a more balanced assessment of the situation that goes beyond listing the many obvious deficiencies and inequalities. Trying to belittle positive developments and focusing on the weaknesses of North Korea is not an objective assessment either. It will not improve our understanding of that country, and it will not benefit its people.

Changes in North Korea: For Better or Worse?

By Ruediger Frank

http://38north.org/2012/11/afrank111212/

A recent New York Times article on change in North Korea under Kim Jong Un emphasized a lack of progress for the majority. The facts cited in the article were most likely true, with the usual caveat concerning any information about that country. Many important observations were also made, such as spiking prices, the emergence of speculators, growing disappointment, efforts by the government to earn hard currency, bribery, disgust over inequality, and an increasingly realistic self-assessment (“I thought our country lived well,” she said, “but I was mistaken.”). But when it comes to interpreting these observations, we should be careful and avoid being one-sided.