Accentuate the Positive

How does a progressive young South Korean reporter react to a crackdown on dissent? You call it a reform, even if the spin is laughably transparent.

Most of the alleged changes in the law–always suspect in a system that’s so arbitrary and (probably) corrupt–have to do with increasing punishments for dissent, public disturbances, and receiving foreign broadcasts. The North Koreans did criminalize some certain property crimes, such as copyright infringement. Those who will see this as proof that North Korea is reforming may want to ask just who will really own that property, whether real, chattel, or intellectual. In fact, the clearer trend regarding the economic crimes was actually to stiffen state control of resources.

There are two distinctly different approaches to foreign investment policy for North Korea. The South Korean view might be characterized as the “Trojan Horse” theory. The North Korean view could be called the “flypaper” theory. Lay down something sweet, sticky, and syrupy, and someone will be stupid enough to fly in and get stuck.

UPDATE: Or, you could choose to accentuate the negative.