Understanding North Korea's Resilience through Economy, Laws and Governance

a review of introductory sources and essential monographs

Abstract

This study reviews contributions that may help researchers re-evaluate the question of the North Korea's remarkable resilience in spite of its undeniable economic failure, a seemingly obscure legal system, and flawed governance. The review focuses therefore on three pillars of the North Korean regime and their historical evolution: the economy, the legal-judicial landscape (inclusive of state bureaucracy and legislative processes) and institutional profile anchored to the conventional understanding of the DPRK as a failed state. The purpose of this review is to introduce studies – particularly those produced over the last two decades - that can specifically guide researchers who have recently approached North Korea in their inquiries.