North Korean Economic Reform: New Changes or Old, Empty Promises?

Issue & Policy Briefs October 25, 2012, No. 103

In June, North Korean authorities announced agricultural reforms called the “6.28 policy,” which promises to recalculate the ratio of distributed planned products (70 percent to the country, 30 percent to farm workers) and downsize basic farm units from 10-25 people to 4-6 people. The regime’s declared purpose is to ease the current economic crisis and improve the people’s standard of living. Details about reforms, however, remain unclear as well as the underlying motivations and, of course, their possible outcomes.

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