| Publication |
2006.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Accepting the DPRK as a member of the World Bank would require the political support of most of the Bank's member governments, and this would become possible only if there is a successful resolution of the Six-Party Talks. The amount of financial assistance from the Bank would then depend on how seriously the DPRK pursues a transition to a more open and market-oriented economy, but in any case the Bank's financial assistance would be small compared to the DPRK's needs and to the potential assistance from bilateral sources. Nevertheless, the World Bank's policy advice and its potential role in coordinating and catalyzing other assistance could be important for North Korean economic development. The prospects for quickly launching a constructive relationship between the DPRK and the World Bank following a successful conclusion of the Six-Party Talks would be enhanced by advanced preparation on both sides. In particular, the DPRK should begin to articulate its own strategy for economic transition.
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