Abstract
This chapter examines the internal and external factors that contribute to the North Korean economic growth despite the United States and United Nation’s imposed sanctions. The specifics indicate a possible repeat of Myanmar’s current reality if the present course of sanction ineffectiveness continues. The adjustments of the North Korean economic policy in the past 25 years suggest a calculated ideological government response to sanctions by focussing on the growth of the economic sectors closely associated with the revered Korean cultural virtues of “self-reliance” and “military first.” The growth has allowed the regime to show enough progress to its citizens and provide enough marginal quality-of-life improvements to maintain critical citizen support.