North Korea’s won slipped against the dollar in recent weeks, bringing into question whether Pyongyang is running out of hard currency amid sanctions.

Despite the positive tone and candidness, Kim Jong Un's new year's address is ultimately disappointing since he gives little indication that real reforms are in the works

Pyongyang's promise of prosperity runs up against hard realities that even the Worker's Party cannot deny. With little changes to the broken economic structure, time may not be on Kim Jong-un's side.

North Koreans have purchased small solar power panels from China to charge their cell phones and produce a little heat for cooking and other household uses.  

Let’s examine the North Korean economic scene in the hot Korean summer of 2018 to see if we can get hints at Kim Jong-un’s thinking.

Kim Jong-un is launching his “economy first” messaging with his new emphasis on economic growth and improved living standards.