But the lesson of the past 20 years is that this helps the regime by giving it currency or other aid to pay off its members and by enhancing its international stature.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Breaking the Kim Dynasty

This partly reflects China's controversial currency regime.

ECONOMIST: China��s economy and the WTO

The regime still needs this source of hard currency, and it would make sense for the South to close it down.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Calling Kim's Bluff

It is time for international policymakers to be clearer about this and for Brazil to accept the consequences for its own currency regime.

ECONOMIST: Storm clouds from Brazil