Mr Kim's infallibility complex the official press offers only paeans of praise for his talents in everything from potato growing to golf and an obsession with secrecy serve the country ill.

ECONOMIST: The things North Korea attempts to hide

One case in point: According to a study by the Indian Institute of Management, potato farmers in the potato-growing states of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have realized 25% price gains since trading in potato futures began in 2006.

FORBES: Exchange For Good

In Cutervo, the centre of a big potato-growing region in the northern highlands, farmers have yet to find a way to turn potatoes into prosperity.

ECONOMIST: Making the most of potato patrimony

In a report released in Beijing on Wednesday, the World Bank says it expects the Eurozone will post no growth at all in 2012 and overall developed markets, which at this point just includes Japan and the U.S. in a stumbling potato sack race, growing at just 1.4%.

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Apart from the BASF potato, there is only one other GM crop approved for commercial growing in the EU - a strain of maize developed by Monsanto called MON810.

BBC: Hot potatoes! BASF drops GM spud plans in EU