China invests in North Korean reform

According to the Chinese expert, Yang Xiyu, this might well mark a step towards a more stable and peaceful Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, as the country is also called.

“From a strategic perspective, North Korea is making a transition from a military-firstpolicy to an economy-first policy. When North Korea increasingly places strategic focus on economic construction, it is bound to stimulate faster and deeper implementation of reform and opening up measures. This is the future trend,” says North Korea specialist Yang Xiyu from China Institute of International Studies.

Professor Yang’s words are backed by the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who, in his new year’s address said that improving the country’s economy is this year’s most important task.

And the young Kim, who has been in power since his father, Kim Jong-il, died in late 2011, has already showed a will to develop – and perhaps even open up – the North Korean economy.