As North Korea is apparently taking steps to opening its door, insiders and international observants have expressed confidence that Vietnam would be a top model, especially in how it has turned the U.S. from a war enemy into a major business and security partner. Duong Chinh Thuc, former Vietnam ambassador to North Korea and South Korea, who spent more than 20 years studying and working in the North from the 1960s, told VnExpress about the historical and political resemblance that would make Vietnam an "appropriate" example for Kim Jong Un. Can you comment on reports that Kim Jong Un considered Vietnam a model for North Korea’s economic development? That is certainly appropriate because North Korea and Vietnam share many similarities. Both countries were affected by war, both were isolated by the U.S. and other nations, and both have had agriculture spearhead national growth. Vietnam and North Korea are also led by Communist parties, and share a lot of cultural commonalities, … [Read more...] about Vietnam an appropriate growth model for North Korea: former envoy
North korea food shortage
A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P7: Education
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea, has adopted educational reform and reaped encouraging results since the late 1950s. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea, has adopted educational reform and reaped encouraging results since the late 1950s. >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P6: The food stamp story >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P5: The blue, red won >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P4: Visiting North-South border village >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P3: Beer fete >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P2: Immortal leaders >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P1: First images Since 1959, the North Korean government has applied free education at all levels. University students are also eligible for scholarships. The country switched from the … [Read more...] about A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P7: Education
A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P6: The food stamp story
While citizens of the capital of Pyongyang have fared relatively well, people in other parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea still worry about a scarcity of food. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports, due to prolonged drought in 2015, North Korea's total amount of staple grains dropped by nine percent to approximately 5.4 million metric tons compared to 5.9 million metric tons in 2014. While citizens of the capital of Pyongyang have fared relatively well, people in other parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea still worry about a scarcity of food. >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea - P5: The blue, red won >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea - P4: Visiting North-South border village >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea - P3: Beer fete >> A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea - P2: Immortal leaders >> A Vietnamese … [Read more...] about A Vietnamese perspective from inside North Korea – P6: The food stamp story
North Korea-U.S. deal revives hopes of nuclear disarmament talks
North Korea has agreed with the United States to suspend major elements of its atomic weapons program in a surprise breakthrough that could pave the way for the resumption of long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks with the secretive state. But the announcement, made simultaneously on Wednesday in Pyongyang and Washington and accompanied by pledges of U.S. food aid, was met with very guarded optimism by analysts and diplomats who noted that efforts to defuse tensions on the divided Korean peninsula had seen many false dawns. "These are concrete measures that we consider a positive first step toward complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it "a modest first step in the right direction," adding that Washington continued to have profound concerns over a range of North Korean activities. North Korea said it would suspend nuclear tests, long-range … [Read more...] about North Korea-U.S. deal revives hopes of nuclear disarmament talks
North Korea says it faces worst drought in a century
North Korea says it is facing the worst drought in a century, sparking fears of worsening food shortages. State news agency KCNA said main rice-growing provinces had been badly affected and more than 30% of rice paddies were "parching up". Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are believed to have died during a widespread famine in the 1990s. This drought is unlikely to be as deadly because of recent agricultural reforms, correspondents say. The United Nations World Food Programme says North Korea regularly faces significant food shortages and currently about a third of children in the country are malnourished. KCNA said granaries in the provinces of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, South Phyongan and South Hamgyong were "badly affected". It added that it was planting other crops in rice paddy fields of drought-stricken areas to "reduce damage". Last year the country saw its lowest rainfall in 30 years. The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul says that since the famine in the 1990s, North … [Read more...] about North Korea says it faces worst drought in a century