The article analyzes the changes that have occurred in the DPRK economy during the years of Kim Jong-un's rule. The article considers the significant shifts that have taken place in the direction of a market economy, both in industry and in agriculture. At the same time, it is noted that market innovations are officially presented under the guise of elements of self-financing and the further development of socialism. Not all of the functioning market schemes have received the appropriate legislative formalization and, thus, remain illegal, although they are widely used in practice. Nevertheless, the country has been successfully developing for a number of years, demonstrating steady economic growth, a construction boom, the widespread introduction of information technologies, as well as significant progress in rocket science and the improvement of the nuclear arsenal. Numerous missile tests in 2017 led to a sharp aggravation of the situation on the peninsula, tightening of international sanctions, slowing down development and freezing further "reforms". Kim Jong-un's attempts to find a way out of the current situation through initiating a negotiation process with the ROK and the United States undoubtedly contributed to reducing tension in the region, however, in general, they were not crowned with success. The course to create a self-sufficient economy with the appearance of the threat of COVID-19 was accomplished with a regime of severe self-isolation. In conclusion, considerations are expressed regarding the ways of further development of North Korea. It is predicted that the role of the state will increase in the economic life of the country, which, after a series of successes and achievements, has found itself in the most difficult situation in the last twenty years.