How North Korea's hushed-up economy is hindering its development

Pyongyang has been denied entry to China's new investment bank because of a refusal to share economic data. But with the World Bank unlikely to step in the regime may have to reconsider, says Andray Abrahamian

China has rejected a North Korean attempt to join its new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), according to a recent report, a decision which could have a significant effect on Pyongyang.

Masahiro Kawai, a professor of public policy at the University of Tokyo told Emerging Markets that North Korea had failed to "disclose sufficient information" relating to industry, public finances, and its tax base.

North Korea has not released economic data since the 1960s, for fear it could be used by its enemies

If you can't run a mine or a factory for lack of electricity, you can't invest