From North Korea, Word of Shortages, Grudges

From North Korea, Word of Shortages, Grudges

online.wsj.com

DANDONG, China—One evening last week in this Chinese border city, restaurants bustled and taxis honked. Tall buildings were clad in LED displays. Just beyond the din, an empty one-lane bridge extended across the Yalu river, to a darkened North Korean city on the other side.

This narrow border bridge is North Korea's lifeline to the outside world, carrying what economists estimate is some 70% of the country's trade volume. Earlier in the day, roughly 100 trucks and four trains traveled across

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The bridge at Dandong, China, above, is North Korea's main link to the world.



Leader Kim Jong Il visiting China's Hu Jintao in late August.

There's nothing much that is new about the economy of the hermit kingdom, that is, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The one-party state relies heavily on imports from its benefactor, the PRC, for its foodstuffs, fuel and other necessities.

Making money in North Korea is the facet of economic survival.

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I saw videos of Dear Leader chatting with the Chinese bigwigs during his visit there. It was very friendly, people were all smiling like a gathering of friends.

Much better than the tone when, for example, Hillary visits them.