SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- A democratic and market-oriented external environment as well as growing access to outside information will likely push the reclusive North Korean regime to collapse by 2030, paving the way for the reunification, a Russian academic said Tuesday.
The remarks by Alexander Dynkin, the director of the Russian think tank Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), came as North Korea is being closely watched for any clues on its future course following the Dec. 17 death of its longtime leader Kim Jong-il. Kim's third and youngest son, Jong-un, has taken the helm of power in Pyongyang, but the succession process remains shrouded in secrecy.
