How the West Recognizes the DPRK’s Economic Achievements

On June 7, 2026, The Wall Street Journal, a leading Western publication, released an article titled “The World’s Most Surprising Economic Success Story Is…North Korea.” Unexpected, right?

And now we have a piece with a completely different tone, published in The Wall Street Journal, which is one of the world’s most influential and authoritative business newspapers. The publication is based in the United States and specializes in business, finance, politics, and economics news. Getting published there is never accidental and often serves as a kind of marker for emerging trends, financial markets, and the global agenda.

Out of nowhere, the reputable outlet published a sensational article in which North Korea’s economy is called the most surprising economic success story in the world.

We shall not retell the entire article, but we will highlight the most striking moments reported by those who regularly visit the North Korean capital (for example, Rowan Beard, head of the tourism company Young Pioneer Tours, who has been to the country more than a hundred times organizing tourist trips there).

In Pyongyang, there is now a taxi app similar to Uber. This requires a certain level of digitalization as well as a sufficient number of people equipped with smartphones capable of running such an application. In addition, many Chinese electric vehicles and other foreign cars are driving around the North Korean capital.

Restaurants now serve wood-fired pizza and chicken wings. However, back in 2017, establishments catering to foreigners already offered French fries and sweet potato lattes. The author also notes that, despite the general emphasis on tradition, the authorities have not sunk to the level of “no disgusting hamburgers, only pancakes.”

Visitors of various establishments can pay through mobile payment systems and/or via QR codes.

Pyongyang now has modern pet stores where you can find small........

© New Eastern Outlook