system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does North Korea's economy work?

I just finished watching *The Propaganda Game*, a documentary on North Korea, and found myself a little confused to how a country without ties to western civilization and its economy can afford to continue growing.
Although much of the country is very poor, the capital and surrounding areas were flourishing. New housing, amazing amusement parks, and enormous government facilities were being built everywhere.
For a country that offers free "healthcare", "education", and housing, and also doesn't charge it's citizens taxes, how can their economy stay afloat? It also seemed as though only government officials receive any kind of salary. What the hell keeps an economy such as this one alive?
gpt
a state controlled economy that is not shy about about the use of forced labor. The state owns basically all the assets in the country and uses them to the benefit of the state. There are mines, farms, factories, businesses, etc. all run by the state which "employs" the NK citizenry.