According to traditional socialist economic theory, the scope of international economic policies expands and develops with economic development. North Korea, while trying to build an independent economy, has transformed its international economic policy by reflecting the conditions at home and abroad. North Korea intends to utilize economic diplomacy for economic development. North Korea had mentioned the necessity of economic diplomacy. However, North Korea's international economic policy could not be positively enforced due to the North Korean regime's non-economic factors of stability. North Korea is now trying to accurately grasp the global trend and develop its international economic policy in line with it.

Currently, the international community's sanctions against North Korea shrank the scope of North Korea’s international economic policy. When North Korea is ready to promote economic development through its open policy, it should adapt to the way the global economy operates and develop its own competitiveness. In this sense, North Korea is altering its economic system to allow companies to survive on their own through economic management improvement measures. North Korea also plans to better establish its international trade structure, participate in the global market more actively, establish an economic development organization, develop a special economic development zone, and acquire foreign capital and advanced technology.

For North Korea to participate in the global economy successfully via its open policy, it must secure its competitiveness by developing an industry that can actively utilize its abundant production factors of endowed resources. North Korea needs to develop labor-intensive industries first, and then foster technology-intensive industries that can actively utilize human capital. Furthermore, special economic zones should be utilized to implement the above-mentioned policies more effectively. Through various economic cooperation in special economic zones, existing industries may not only strengthen their competitiveness but also create new industries and use them as opportunities to understand global market trends and adjust to global market behavior.