About “North Korean Economy Watch”
Launched in January 2006, North Korean Economy Watch (NKeconWatch) is intended as a research resource for business persons, policy makers, academics, journalists and others interested in the North Korean economy (broadly speaking).
Creator/editor:
Curtis Melvin is a researcher at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a contributor to 38 North.
Curtis enjoys traveling to developing nations. To date he has visited over 50 countries including China, Zimbabwe, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Myanmar. Curtis also enjoys Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in which he is a purple belt.
Curtis received his BBA in economics from the University of Georgia and his MA in economics from George Mason University. He is ABD in the econ department at Geroge Mason University.
Co-editor:
Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein is a 2015 graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 2015 with an MA in international relations and international economics. He will begin his PhD in history at University of Pennsylvania in August 2015, focusing his research on North Korean political history.
Benjamin enjoys reading and writing about totalitarianism and the intersection between political oppression and economics. He previously worked in development politics for the Swedish government. He is an avid listener of the North Korean Army Choir.
Categories
The category menu on the right hand side of the web page links to relevant articles listed in order of posting. The main categories are listed in alphabetical order, but the sub categories are listed under their relevant category heading.
This format might be confusing for new readers, so in instances where this is the case, please use the search box located at the top of the sidebar.
Additionally, confusion can arise over the proper romanization of Korean names. In most cases, the categories are listed using the North Korean style of romanization (for instance, the editor uses “Kaesong” rather than “Gaeseong”). However, when referencing another author’s work, the editor will leave in place the original author’s spelling.
Content
Content for this website is a combination of materials from outside sources and the editor’s own writings. If the editor uses or posts someone else’s work, full credit will be given (and links if possible) so that said material may be verified and referenced by others.
This site focuses primarily on economic and cultural aspects of North Korea. This site does not generally focus on human rights issues or the nuclear issue, though they will come up from time to time. Although these topics are important, they are thoroughly covered in other forums.
Disclaimers
First, the views expressed by Curtis Melvin on this web site are his alone and should not be interpreted to to be those of any of his associates.
Secondly, there is a Twitter page for NKeconWatch. While I am appreciative of this page, I have no connection with it. This person is impersonating me. Contacting or following that web page will not help you reach me. You can reach me at my personal Twitter account here or by email (see below).
Contributions
If you have specific knowledge which advances one of the topics being discussed in this forum, or you would like to put an item of interest to the readers of North Korean Economy Watch, the editor invites you to:
- Post your comments for others to read on the related post. Citations would be much appreciated so others can cite your reference in later work.
- Email stories and information directly to the editor of North Korean Economy Watch (as many already have) at: NKeconWatch “at” gmail “dot” com.
- If you are interested in guest blogging or making regular contributions, please email the editor of this blog at the above address for more information.
Special projects:
Google Earth North Korea– Compiling public maps, interviews, innovative analysis, and elbow grease, the editor of this site has also created the most comprehensive mapping of North Korea that publicly exists today. You can download it onto Google Earth here. The next installment will be published with 38 North at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
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