If sunshine is the best disinfectant, then giving the North Korean people the same access that the rest of the world has to information about their country, its history, and the world would probably be the best strategy for change. Their compliance with their government effectively supports it more than anything else. That compliance makes sense, despite it appearing from our perspective against their long-term interests. Not complying can cost dearly. From what I hear The country's network of informants surpasses that of the East German Stasi. The government punishes your family members for your actions. Punishments can be unilateral…

I've written at length on this page on how I think direct interactions between North Korean people and people from the rest of the world increase communication and understanding between the two groups. I mentioned in my post on the ethics on visiting North Korea that I expect increasing tourism will open the country. I think such interactions could change North Korea, mainly by bringing new information to the population. The North Korean people comply with their government's systems, effectively supporting it. The government creates that support with propaganda. The histories of North Korea, its leaders, South Korea, and the…

I have to be careful in this post. Parts of it will sound distasteful so some. But the basic idea is the same as witness protection programs for criminals. As a society we have decided that at times we will protect criminals for their cooperation to achieve more important outcomes. North Korea's decision-makers are not criminals (everything they do is probably legal). I'm just using the analogy to explain. I noted something I believe motivates North Korea's leaders more than anything else -- from their perspective consequences of failure include their deaths as well as those of their families and…

One place I could see changing things in North Korea is its relationship with China. I'm sure the lack of knowledge I show in this post will make me look ignorant, but I'll share anyway. Most of what I know about relations between China and North Korea come from three sites The Council on Foreign Relations' report The China-North Korea Relationship The Council on Foreign Relations' report The Six-Party Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Program Wikipedia's article People's Republic of China–North Korea relations The first CFR report seems to cover the main topics well. I'll distill what seem the most…

I've described a system where when all actors act in their interests, everybody loses, except perhaps a few dozen decision-makers in North Korea. I've described what I think won't substantively change the situation in North Korea. Yesterday I wrote about what wouldn't change things. One of the greatest lessons I learned in business school applies here, as well as to all so-called moral problems: If the system leads to only undesired outcomes, change the system. Changing a system rarely happens by changing one part of it unless the system depends on that part. To understand systems, I know of no…

I have found people outside North Korea quick to express feelings of moral outrage, indignation, and injustice by judging North Korean leaders. They call them monsters, bad, evil, and so on. I have found such judgment counterproductive to influencing others (as well as my own well-being). If you don't like what's happening there and want to change it, expressing judgment may make you feel better, but you sacrifice ability to change things. I guarantee decision-makers there don't consider themselves monsters, bad, or evil. If you say they are, you polarize the situation, contribute to them digging in their heels, and…