North Korea Brightens Up, but Still Lags Behind
Nighttime Satellite Images Reveal Slow Progress in Economic Development
Astronauts Capture Striking Photo of Darkness in Hermit Kingdom
Since the mid-1990s, when fuel stopped flowing from the defunct Soviet Union to North Korea, the famously hermetic country has faced significant economic challenges. Examination of nighttime satellite images from the past seven years reveals that North Korea is slowly becoming brighter at night, although it is still outpaced by its richer neighbors.
While flying over East Asia, astronauts on the International Space Station snapped a striking photograph of North and South Korea at night. The contrast between the brightly lit cities in South Korea and the darkness that envelops North Korea is stark.
Satellite images from NASA's Earth Observatory show that the network of electricity linking cities in North Korea has expanded in recent years. However, the country still lags far behind its neighbors in terms of economic development. According to the World Bank, North Korea's GDP per capita is estimated to be around $1,100, compared to $27,400 in South Korea.
The slow pace of economic development in North Korea is attributed to a number of factors, including the country's isolationist policies, lack of foreign investment, and inefficient economic system. The country's nuclear weapons program has also diverted significant resources away from other areas of the economy.
Despite the challenges, North Korea is making some progress in terms of economic development. The country has recently opened up to foreign investment in some sectors, and there are signs that the government is beginning to implement economic reforms. However, it is still too early to say whether these changes will lead to sustainable economic growth in the long term.
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