[MeganC]

North Korea is sitting on an estimated treasure trove of rare earth metals worth more than $20 TRILLION dollars.

Meaning that the expensive part of reunification will be the war that China is going to wage to try to keep control of those resources.

Aside from China the Korean reunification will pay for itself.

[MUDDOG]

Angela Merkel coming over in the German reunification should give S. Korea pause.

[trebb]

Let's have the 12 June meeting first - then we can speculate.

Besides, it woildn't take such a big cost to vastly improve the Norks' situation in life and if things stabilize, there's probably plenty of speculators/investors who might want an early niche in an expanding market.

[gr8eman]

That effin’ Trump costing those people all that money! Damn him!

[Biggirl]

Yet one less nuke power to contend with.

[Dilbert San Diego]

But what about Kim Jong un? Would he really allow capitalist reforms and give e greater freedoms to N.Korea? Would he really voluntarily give up power, agree to the eventual reunification of Korea where he’s no longer in control?

[RinaseaofDs]

It’s all opportunity.

Families will take care of each other. The East Germany reunification was expensive, to be sure, but the desire to reunite was the ROI.

I also think Germany is far stronger today for having done it, despite the costs.

What a mess that was, fortifying West Berlin. Can’t believe we all survived that.

[\/\/ayne]

If North Korea were to re-unify the people would need extensive treatment - for physical starvation and other medical problems as well as mental troubles caused by horrific conditions and brainwashing. They don't understand how a real society works.

Imagine a woman who has falsely accused her grandmother of conspiring against the State just to get a few crumbs of food. A starving person will do almost anything, especially if they think they are going to die soon anyway. But then what if they live? Can such people live among the normal society, having never known normality?

[Lurkinanloomin]

Not our bill to pay.

[lurk]

When you free a population from socialism, you have to teach them to think creatively and to work. That is not easy.

[BeauBo]

Both Koreas want reunification - as long as they will be in charge.

I doubt that reunification is on the table - just too much for the Norks (and China) to surrender. It likely requires one side to lose, totally.

Likely it is de-nuclearization, in exchange for economic improvement in the North. Possibly a formal end to the war.