North Korea presents a troubling paradox in modern development: it is one of the dwindling number of countries continually on the verge of famine, but it also the newest member of the select club of states to possess both nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic rocketry. This marriage of economic privation and military aggressiveness is not coincidental—to the contrary, argues AEI’s Nicholas Eberstadt, it faithfully reflects the priorities and policies of North Korean leadership.

In his recently published book, The North Korean Economy: Between Crisis and Catastrophe (Transaction, 2007), Eberstadt contends that North Korea, to the great disadvantage of its own people and the countries of its region, has perfected a perverse political economy that seeks to achieve state survival through export of international insecurity in exchange for foreign assistance.

On April 17, AEI will host a discussion on Eberstadt’s new book, followed by a public reception. Join us and two renowned specialists on North Korean affairs for this most timely discussion.