[FredZarguna]

North Korea was never "doing quite well." In the 1950's they had some advantages because the original partition of the country left most of the industry in the hands of North Korea, and most of the poorest peasants in the South. They were also heavily subsidized by both China and the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, they were never anything but a third-world country.

Here is a graph of North Korea's GDP. South Korea's GDP roughly follows this graph until the 1970's, at which point it continues to grow. Note what happens to NoKorea when the Soviet Union dies.

[BobL]

“Here is a graph of North Korea’s GDP. South Korea’s GDP roughly follows this graph until the 1970’s, at which point it continues to grow. Note what happens to NoKorea when the Soviet Union dies. “

Pretty much makes my point. They had a decent amount of money back then. They weren’t wealthy, but they were far from starving. But then the freebies ended, and they starved...