Special to WorldTribune.com

By Lee Jong-Heon, EastAsiaIntel.com

North Korea’s cash flow has tightened significantly due to its growing trade deficit and internal struggles over the allocation of funds from the exports of natural resources.

The country’s trade deficit jumped 41.2 percent to $1.28 billion in 2014 from the previous year due to shrinking exports, according to a report by South Korea’s government trade agency.

“The drop in mineral resources exports is largely attributable to internal disputes over who would profit from the lucrative exports,” said Kang Myong-Do, a defector and son-in-law of North Korea’s former Premier Kang Song-San.

Exports of natural resources are controlled by the powerful military, while shipments of other items, such as fish and agricultural goods, are controlled by Office No. 39 of the Workers’ Party, the linchpin of the country’s “court economy” centered on the dynastic family, according to Kang.

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