The Significance of Details. Progress in North Korea is hard to get and maybe even harder to see

Abstract

Last year’s Arab Spring brought about abrupt changes in several North African countries. Even in Cuba and China, marked by one-partyrule for decades, reforms and a gradual opening are visible. But the People‘s Democratic Republic of Korea withstands any change like a peculiar interpretation of the Gallic village we remember from our childhood’s comic books. Or doesn’t it? North Korea is a black box to us. While this triggers scientific creativity, it may also result in grave misconceptions of the country’s situation.