North Korea’s academic journals provide key insights into how the country is thinking about its own trajectory—what ideas are being explored, tested and supported. In some cases, they can also reflect a sort of ongoing debate within the country, among the technocrats and academics, about the pros and cons of various policies. However, these journals are published only in Korean language and can be difficult to access outside of the country.

As part of ongoing research on North Korea’s economic policymaking, 38 North’s Nonresident Fellow Rachel Minyoung Lee has translated articles from key economic journals. These translations informed the research conducted by Ms. Lee and 38 North Nonresident Fellow Robert Carlin. They are also archived below to help others interested in researching this topic.

38 North would like to thank the Henry Luce Foundation and Korea Foundation for their generous support of this research and translation project.

TRANSLATED MATERIALS

• Choso’n Sinbo
  • Also written as Choson Sinbo. Title in English: The People’s Korea
• Kim Il Sung Chonghaptaehakhakpo (Ch’o’rhak, Kyo’ngje)
  • Also referred to as Hakpo. Titles in English: The Journal of Kim Il Sung University (Philosophy, Economy) or The Journal of Kim Il Sung University (Economics)
• Kyo’ngje Yo’ngu
  • Also written as Kyongje Yongu. Title in English: Economic Research
• Other
  • “Kim Jong Un: Let Us Bring a Turnabout in Financial and Banking Work and Vigorously Accelerate Powerful State Construction,” Workers’ Party of Korea Publishing House, January 30, 2017 (originally published in 2015)

38 NORTH PUBLICATIONS REFERENCING THE TRANSLATIONS

• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Project Overview,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, May 28, 2021
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Defense Versus Civilian Spending,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, September 22, 2021
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Pyongyang’s Views on Banking,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, December 22, 2021
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Management System Discourse,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, February 16, 2022
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: A Review and Implications,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, March 24, 2022
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Tourism as an Industry,” Rachel Minyoung Lee and Robert Carlin, July 26, 2022
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Rolling Out Economic Development Zones,” Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee, December 21, 2022
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Foreign Trade Narrative,” Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee, February 6, 2023
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Juche and Foreign Trade,” Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee, February 16, 2023
• “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking: Key Findings and Implications,” Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee, February 23, 2023

Read the original article on 38 North.