Why did North Korea’s policy of self-reliance still require foreign aid and imports?

North Korea’s policy of Juche, or self-reliance, aimed for economic independence; however, the country consistently required foreign aid and imports due to structural failures and systemic underdevelopment within its command economy.12

While the state prioritized heavy industry and military development, it neglected agriculture and consumer goods for decades, leading to chronic shortages of essential commodities like fuel, machinery, and grain. The country’s inability to meet its own production goals was exacerbated by limited agricultural capacity, poor infrastructure, and a lack of technological modernization.231

Furthermore, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of its primary trading partners in the 1990s, combined with natural disasters, triggered severe food insecurity and economic hardship. Despite the ideological commitment to autarky, North Korea was forced to accept international food assistance and eventually open limited sectors to foreign investment to address these systemic crises. Additionally, long-standing economic sanctions have further constrained the country's ability to engage in international trade, deepening its reliance on external support.24