Korea: January 22, 2001

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's trip to China resulted in his examining many market economy enterprises and concluding that the Chinese Communist Party's approach was "correct." Kim also met with several senior Chinese officials. Over the next few months, Kim may or may not be able to implement similar reforms in North Korea.  Meanwhile, the North is experiencing it's coldest winter in half a century. More North Koreans are making life threatening attempts to flee the country. This puts more pressure on Kim to undertake economic reforms in the north.