Published October 22nd, 2006 by Future Atlas
North Korea: cracks appearing?
The NYT / IHT reports four apparent trends in North Korea:
- The “government …. is progressively losing the paramount role it used to enjoy in society”.
- “The power of ideology appears to be waning.”
- “Information has begun to seep in from the outside world.”
- “The effects of money and corruption appear to have grown sharply in recent years, as market liberalization has allowed ordinary people to run small businesses.”
Together, these suggest that the probability of a rapid transition or implosion are increasing, as the cult that is North Korea loses its tight seal against the rest of the world.