How Kim Jong Un "Accidentally" Fixed North Korea's Economy
Summary
This episode investigates North Korea’s recent economic boom, driven by a massive barter trade with Russia for munitions and soldiers during the Ukraine war. It analyzes how satellite data reveals a surge in urban development and consumer goods, while explaining why this growth is economically complex due to the liquidation of decades-old stockpiles. The discussion highlights the role of China as a key intermediary and explores whether this influx of resources will genuinely improve living standards or simply reinforce state control. Finally, it assesses the sustainability of this arrangeme…
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