the Koreans?

[mrmod]

But they indicate that per capita annual income back then in South Korea was $18,000, while in China it was $2,000.

And Ireland was 4th in the World. So times have changed. Plus it is per capita. Considering the huge population it is very very hard to make all those people have a medium/high income that would raise the average.

But your point is still very much valid. In fact, one of the best things North Koreans can hope for is a union with the South. It would be a winning position from their current regime.