On August 16, 2016, the 22nd Sejong Colloquium was held on the subject of “the Current State of China-North Korea Economic Exchange and the North Korean Economy Observed from Border Areas.” The colloquium was moderated by Dr. Seong-chang Cheong, director of the Department of Unification Strategy Studies, and presented by our senior fellow, Dr. Jong-seok Lee.

Dr. Lee, who has just returned from his in-depth research trip to the border between China and North Korea, gave a presentation on the recent economic exchange between China and North Korea, analyzed the current state of the North Korea economy, and assessed implications for future policy development based on his research findings during the trip. Dr. Lee further argued that, unlike in the past, the current China-North Korea economic exchange is extending and evolving to the level of bilateral relations that share interests, and indicated the necessity of policy development that reflects the changes in the recent North Korean economy.