As things stood until recently, an unhealthy sort of system linked northern and southern Europe, with subsidies and tourist euros from the north helping to mask and preserve dysfunctional politics and sclerotic societies south of the Alps.

ECONOMIST: History��s most important sea

Optimists those who think Kim Jong Il's regime is slowly but surely preparing to open up to the outside world point to recent constitutional changes allowing a bit of freer enterprise, training abroad for a few officials in banking and other real-world activities, and the beginnings of a lucrative tourist trade from South Korea to the North.

ECONOMIST: Another Korean crisis?

It is thought the stones may have been taken from the world-famous tourist attraction on the north coast of Northern Ireland several decades ago.

BBC: Giant's Causeway stones sold for ?19,000