The current problems in the DPRK stem from the brutal sanctions. Prior to the USSR's overthrow when the sanctions had far less effect, the North was developing and urbanizing faster than the South, even with 20% of its population killed, and all its infrastructure destroyed, by the US.
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Myths & Misconceptions About North Korea by a non-socialist creator
Agree with you on the nukes of course. The DPRK would've ended up like Libya is right now and the US might have been at war against China if they didn't develop their nuclear deterrence.