Living quarters have been well planned but lack the electricity, water and finishing touches. — VNS Photo Lê Hoa By Vũ Lê Hoa As an avid traveller, I have set myself a target of visiting 100 countries around the world. North Korea stands at 67, so I’m two thirds there. On my list, I visited Latvia in the Baltics the year before, and last year I went to Mongolia. So this year, when a new tour to North Korea was announced after the unsuccessful Trump-Kim summit in Hà Nội, I boarded the first tour heading to Pyongyang. At 3am, we arrived at the airport. I had expected two groups of people on my tour: a group of wealthy elderly people visiting North Korea out of curiosity, and maybe younger people in their 30s or 40s who were single and wanted to tick off one more destination on their bucket lists. We flew from Hà Nội to Beijing, then Pyongyang, a secretive city … [Read more...] about Unveil the secrecy of North Korea
How poor is north korea
Why int’l experts say Vietnam should be economic model for North Korea?
The Hanoitimes - Vietnam and North Korea have similar background in national protection. But how they responded has set them on different paths after decades. Trump touts Vietnam's economy as model for North Korea The selection of Vietnam for the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has somewhat guided the possible reproduction of some economic models that have portrayed Vietnam one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on March 1. Photo: VNS First of all, Vietnam serves as case study of foe-turned-ally. Vietnam and the US, once military enemies, are now parties in trade. Trade between Vietnam and the US has skyrocketed, growing from US$451 million in 1995 to roughly US$60 billion in 2018, according to the two countries' statistics. People in HCM City welcome US President Barack Obama in May 2016. … [Read more...] about Why int’l experts say Vietnam should be economic model for North Korea?
Why world experts say Vietnam should be economic model for North Korea?
The Hanoitimes - Vietnam and North Korea have similar background in national protection. But how they responded has set them on different paths after decades. Trump touts Vietnam's economy as model for North Korea The selection of Vietnam for the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has somewhat guided the possible reproduction of some economic models that have portrayed Vietnam one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi on March 1. Photo: VNS First of all, Vietnam serves as case study of foe-turned-ally. Vietnam and the US, once military enemies, are now parties in trade. Trade between Vietnam and the US has skyrocketed, growing from US$451 million in 1995 to roughly US$60 billion in 2018, according to statistics. People in HCM City welcome US President Barack Obama in May 2016. Photo: Soha … [Read more...] about Why world experts say Vietnam should be economic model for North Korea?
North Korea can learn from Vietnam’s achievements and its mistakes – VnExpress International
Raymond Mallon, economist When I first visited Viet Nam as an ADB economist in 1988, the country was facing a serious economic crisis. Weaknesses in the central planning development model and the ongoing U.S.-led economic embargo were compounded by a drastic reduction in external support from the former East European bloc. Poverty was widespread, there were food shortages, annual inflation was over 500 percent, and there was limited economic links with the rapidly developing neighboring countries. Vietnamese people and businesses had limited access to ideas, technology and capital from rapidly developing regional economies. Productivity, incomes and living standards were far behind most other countries. Recognising that the old development model was not achieving national social development objectives, Vietnamese leaders began looking at other options to national social and economic development goals. In particular, leaders studied the experiences of regional economies to … [Read more...] about North Korea can learn from Vietnam’s achievements and its mistakes – VnExpress International
Invest in North Korea: money pit or golden opportunity?
Donald Trump dangled the carrot of foreign investment in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at their nuclear summit, but analysts say few will want to put money into one of the highest-risk business environments in the world. The U.S. president showed Kim a movie of bright lights, high-speed trains and soaring tower blocks - pitching a future that could be possible if Pyongyang gives up its weapons. Optimists say that with mineral wealth, cheap labour, and a helpful geographical location, the North has huge potential. But the history of overseas firms who have tried to set up operations in the isolated, impoverished country is a long and sorry one. Rules that can change on a whim, bills that are never paid, and the threat of expropriation hang over foreigners who step into the wildest of wild east investment destinations. For now, dozens of restrictions apply under the various sanctions regimes imposed on the North over its nuclear ambitions. Joint ventures are banned by the U.N. … [Read more...] about Invest in North Korea: money pit or golden opportunity?