When the cover of The Economist magazine featured Kim Jong II with his permed hair and the caption “Greetings Earthlings,” it seemed to aptly sum up the world’s view of North Korea. It has the image of being so isolated and different that it may as well be from another planet.
But that popular image is based on the leadership and the policies of those at the top. There is no question Kim Jong Il and his cronies are corrupt, dangerous, isolated, or in some cases simply mad.
The infrastructure of the country is in tatters even as the leadership pursues the acquisition of nuclear weapons. People starve while resources are poured into long-range missiles.
But there is a different North Korea, not centered on Pyongyang but rather the rural communities that make up the bulk of the country. Continue reading
Filed under: north_korea | Tagged: agriculture, corruption, farming, north_korea, rural sector, US Aid | Leave a comment »
