( CNN ) -- One question that policymakers might have overlooked in trying to come up with a long-term strategy toward North Korea is this : Could the Hermit Kingdom be the next Myanmar ? Myanmar , widely known by its former name of Burma , was once a pariah , but it has surprised almost everyone by becoming a Western investor 's dream . While there are significant differences between Myanmar and North Korea , there are similarities that prompt the same Southeast Asian investors who correctly predicted Myanmar 's turnaround to be optimistic about North Korea 's future . Until recently , Myanmar 's only ally was China . For over a decade , the international community placed sanctions on Myanmar for its human rights violations , including the house arrest of the prominent activist Aung San Suu Kyi . But the junta drastically changed direction and endorsed a U.S. road map for reform -- a process that led to the U.S. lifting its export ban in September . Today , an emancipated Suu Kyi is working with the new government on reforms , and Westerners carrying suitcases of cash ( sometimes literally ) are looking to invest in the country . There are many good reasons to turn to Myanmar . The country has plenty of fertile land for agriculture , an abundance of precious stones and large reserves of oil , gas , coal and metals . Office rentals in some parts of Yangon , the former capital , exceed those in central Tokyo . Children who used to beg on the streets have been spotted selling copies of the investment law ( in Burmese and English ) . Myanmar 's transformation is partly because of the leadership realizing that overreliance on China jeopardized the country 's national security . The government prioritized diversifying its trading counterparts , and the detente began . An over-dependence on China could become a big issue for North Korea , too . China props up North Korea with aid and diplomatic support . According to the Council on Foreign Relations , the Middle Kingdom provides North Korea most of its energy needs and consumer goods and nearly half of its food supplies . But despite the support , the North Korean leadership often ignores Beijing 's requests . North Korea conducted its third nuclear test in February despite China publicly asking it not to so . Economic and political pressures do not work well on North Korea 's leadership because its central ideology of Juche , translated as `` self-reliance , '' produces a very negative reaction to outside pressure . This stems from an underdog psyche resulting from centuries of kowtowing to strong Chinese and Japanese neighbors . When the regime feels provoked , it often acts in the opposite direction to demonstrate its independence . For China , being ignored by North Korea is an embarrassment . China 's strategy is a combination of reprimand with ongoing economic engagement , hoping that its influence will change North Korea 's mind . Meanwhile , North Korea 's leadership is aware of its ever-increasing reliance on China , and the Juche ideology may catalyze diversification -- as in Myanmar . And like Myanmar , North Korea would have an appeal to investors . It , too , has large deposits of undeveloped mineral wealth , estimated by the South Korean government to be worth $ 6 trillion . The country also boasts a cheap labor force , with even higher literacy rates than Myanmar . There is one big difference between the two countries -- the attitude of the people toward the West . Even when the U.S. had sanctions on Myanmar , the people were n't taught to hate America . A steady stream of propaganda , however , has left North Koreans with a negative view of the United States . But the recent celebrated visits of Americans such as Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and former NBA Star Dennis Rodman show the appeal the U.S. still has -- and the soft power it can leverage . While the State Department criticized Schmidt , saying the timing was n't `` particularly helpful , '' the timing was in fact telling . Even while going head-to-head with the U.S. on the world stage , a representative of U.S. capitalism was heralded inside North Korea . Of course , soft power strategies are difficult to employ while tensions are high . Since the nuclear test in February , North Korea has threatened to strike at U.S. bases in Asia . It has closed the joint North-South Kaesong Industrial Zone and declared a state of war with South Korea . These are actions that can not be ignored . But in deciding a response , it 's important to understand how the leadership is thinking -- and what the future could hold . In the meantime , it 's the China-North Korea relationship that the savviest of Southeast Asia investors are watching most closely . Maybe North Korea could learn valuable lessons from Myanmar . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Kim and Daniel Freedman .
John Kim and Daniel Freedman : Will the Hermit Kingdom be the next Myanmar ? Kim , John : Myanmar surprised everyone by its reforms , and Western leaders agreed . They said North Korean leadership may not want to rely solely on China for its needs . Kim , Freedman : Visits to North Korea or interactions with its people should be encouraged .