A Futuristic Solution to the North Korean Dilemma: An Economic Perspective

The October 2006 North Korean nuclear bomb test startled the international community for its provocative boldness in light of its starving population. A partial answer to the question of how and where North Korea had obtained the resources necessary to finance such an expensive project might be found in the South Korean economic aids given to North Korea. The North Korean tactic of threatening the international community, particularly South Korea, may work in the short run, but not in the long run. A viable long-run solution to North Korean economic development should be found. The Kaesong Industrial Complex can be an excellent starting point.