SEOUL/BEIJING -- Hoping that the June 12 summit with the U.S. will help ease international sanctions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is drawing on Chinese and Vietnamese experience with introducing market forces into previously closed economies.
A North Korean delegation including Workers' Party of Korea Vice Chairman Pak Thae Song arrived in Beijing this week. The group has visited Zhongguancun, an area often dubbed China's Silicon Valley, and even met with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. Kim likely wanted his key aide to learn more about China's economic opening up and reform.