Acknowledgements = vii Introduction = viii 1 An overview of political and economic developments = 1 A brief history = 1 Relations between North and South Korea = 3 Relations between North Korea and the United States = 17 Relations between North Korea and Japan = 38 The economy = 46 2 Histotical, Political and demographic aspects = 70 Historical and political background = 70 Demographic comparisons between North and South Korea = 75 Family exchanges and visits between North and South Korea = 76 Political prisoners, kidnappings and refugees = 80 Military aspects = 107 A chronology of political developments since 12 March 1993 =109 3 The economy =373 Economic background = 373 Natural resources = 373 NationaI income and per capita income = 375 Economic planning and reforms prior to the summer of 2002 = 377 Specific aspects of the reforms that began in the summer of 2002 = 394 Foreien trade = 411 Foreign debt and aid = 422 Foreign direct investment = 425 Economic performance, famine and mternationaI aid = 446 The cost of reunification = 467 Economic performance = 470 Appendix 1 The Soviet (Stalinist) economic system = 473 Appendix 2 General issues in the transition from command to market economies = 486 Postscript = 499 Bibliography = 512 Index = 520.