The Value of the Kaesong Industrial Complex to North Korea: Economic Implications of the Shutdown Incidents in 2009 and 2013

Kaesong Industrial Complex;Economic Effects;Special Economic Zones;North Korea Economy;327

국제대학원 국제학과 ;

University:서울대학교 국제대학원

关键词: Kaesong Industrial Complex;    Economic Effects;    Special Economic Zones;    North Korea Economy;    327;   

Others  :  http://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/129096/1/000000137054.pdf

美国|英语

来源: Seoul National University Open Repository

【 摘 要 】

North Korea has been developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to push their economic development. Among the SEZs, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), North-South Korean joint economic zone, is significant in that it serves as a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation and is the only source of economic cooperation. However, North Korea has shut down the complex in 2009 and 2013 to raise the tension on the peninsula and take a provocative stance against the international community’s hardline response. This research aims to explain why the North decided to reopen the complex for both times. This question will be answered by analyzing the direct and indirect economic indicators for SEZs. First, the direct indicators will be examined through the case studies of the two shutdown periods in 2009 and 2013. The indirect indicators, on the other hand, will be discussed within the overall period of KIC operation as the indicators deal with long-term economic development. Then, the two case studies of direct economic effects will be compared to evaluate which factors were more significant to the reopening of each period. Lastly, the implications for the indirect effects will assess the significance of the role of KIC to the long-term economic growth. The findings of this research confirm that the KIC did bring both direct and indirect economic benefits to North Korea. Moreover, both imminent and long-term economic benefits impacted the North Korean government to reopen from both shutdowns.