[fbailey]

there is no comparison - east germany had some kind of industry. The issue was privatization and modernisation. Also the population was very well educated and had watched west german TV for the last 30 years.

North Korea has no industry and the population has no education. The unification will be between a high-tech 21st century developed country and the middle ages. The first thing they will have to do is take over the schools so that the next generation in 15 years has a chance to build this country.

GDP 1990 West Germany in 1990 $24,485 East Germany in 1990 $10,430 (I'm not so sure about these figures but the direction is right)