A communist utopia, the professed goal of all Leninist regimes, is incompatible with a monetary economy or commercial activities of any kind. Hence, the gradual displacement of commerce is seen as an important part of the transition to full-fledged communism. However, no communist state has ever been able to eradicate private economic activities completely and despite their persistent efforts, all Leninist regimes have had to tolerate the existence of a "second economy."
In North Korea this "second economy" was originally treated with unusual harshness. The economic collaps of the 1990s, however, was marked by a powerful revival of the "second economy" and a boom in ...