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There is a lot of wishful thinking that North Korea is perennially on the verge of going the China route. To date, Abba Eban's dictum holds in spades: Pyongyang never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. But if our suspicions about corruption are right, they are probably
already going down China's path in one important regard.
John Garnaut, Australia's leading journalist covering the PRC, has published a string of interesting articles that document how official position can be joined with violence in the cause of extortion. These stories suggest a very different development model which would seem to fit--quite sadly--with how power is structured in the DPRK.
Among our favorites: an audacious power grab in the coal sector. But there are many more, including bare-knuckled brawling among China’s “princelings,”and the finer points of bribery.
He also notes how a handful of courageous lawyers are trying to fight the system.
We don't see North Korea permitting that any time soon.
