N. Korea Plans Free Trade Zone on Island

North Korea, one of the most closed nations in the world, may soon have more contact with China, with plans for a free trade zone on Wi Hwa Island. Chinese would not need visas, and the trade zone could increase food and other shipments into North Korea. Analysts suggest that North Korea could be using such a zone to pressure South Korea into continuing its policies of conciliation, reports Toru Makinoda for the Yomiuri Shimbun. The island setting will give North Korea great control over connections and thus suggests that the government is not prepared to expose its people fully to Chinese or any other global ways. – YaleGlobal