[staff]

Me too. It is obvious that it is the government that has shut the country completely from foreign influences. That been said, it has its explanations - the division of Korea, and all. Look at Vietnam which is seeing a similar development to China today. Had it been divided after the war (like Korea), North Vietnam would probably have been as isolated as NK is today. Communist regimes that are free from foreign invasions and trade embargos (China, Sovjet, Post-war Vietnam etc.) tend to dissolve themselves over time. The ones that have been victims of such involvement (Korea, Cuba) tend to uphold the status quo and isolate.

Economic trade and cultural exchange is the way to go, and should be promoted.