The North Korean government has become increasingly secretive about its economic information, making it difficult for analysts to gather accurate data, determine precisely what the country is doing, and how it works from within. Join Stimson Center nonresident fellows Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee as they discuss results from the second phase of the “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking” project analyzing DPRK media and academic sources and assessing which foreign economic ideas have been adopted by North Korea, the impact of external factors on its economy and infrastructure, and how these could shape the country’s future foreign policy and security decisions.
This event was made possible through generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation and Korea Foundation.
Featured Speakers
Rachel Minyoung Lee, Nonresident Fellow, 38 North and Regional Issues Manager and Senior Analyst, Open Nuclear Network
Rachel Minyoung Lee was a collection expert and analyst with Open Source Enterprise under the CIA from 2000 to 2019, writing on the gamut of DPRK issues, from leadership, domestic politics and economy, and foreign policy, to social and cultural developments. She is also a trained translator of North Korean audio and text into English, experienced in overseeing major translation projects, tracking and analyzing Korea-related issues, and implications for Pyongyang’s regime and regional security.
Robert Carlin, Nonresident Fellow, 38 North and Nonresident Scholar, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Robert Carlin has been following North Korea since 1974 from both in and out of government and has taken part in countless hours of negotiations and unofficial discussions with DPRK officials. He served as a senior policy advisor at the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) from 2002-2006, leading delegations to the North for negotiations and observing developments in the country outside of Pyongyang. Carlin has made more than 30 trips to the DPRK.
Moderator
Natalia Slavney, Research Analyst, Stimson Center and Assistant Editor, 38 North
Natalia Slavney is a Research Analyst at the Stimson Center and Assistant Editor for “38 North,” a web journal that provides policy and technical analysis on North Korea. Her research experience and interests include humanitarianism and aid, international law, human rights, inter-Korean relations, US-DPRK relations, digital surveillance technology and information controls in North Korea, and the North Korean economy.