News Summary: North Korea to Expand Economic Zones COURTING INVESTMENT: North Korea plans to set up more special economic zones and has created a group to assist potential foreign investors in a bid to bolster its economy, state media and the organizers of a rare international conference in Pyongyang said Wednesday. THE BACKDROP: North Korea officially follows a rigid planned economy, but authorities have tolerated unofficial capitalist activities for years. It has experimented with special economic zones as a means of enticing foreign investment since the 1990s. RISKY BET: North Korea is still regarded as too risky by many businesses.