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Graphic Truth: Vietnam vs North Korea

Graphic Truth: Vietnam vs North Korea
By Gabe Lipton,
Gabe Lipton
Gabe Lipton is the Associate Editor of Signal responsible for editorial execution of GZERO Media’s written newsletter content. He holds degrees in Government and Economics from Wesleyan University, where he was a member of the international economic honors society, and is studying German in his spare time. At the age of 11, the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) confirmed (in person) his take on an important political question of the day, forever sealing his fate as a close observer of global politics. His Spidey powers leave much to be desired.
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Ari Winkleman
Ari Winkleman
Ari Winkleman is a former lead designer at Eurasia Group and GZERO Media.
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February 27, 2019
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In 1982, North Koreans were around 5 times better off than their Vietnamese counterparts. The intervening four decades are a story of radically different leadership in the two countries with dramatic results. Today, the situation is reversed, with per capita GDP in Vietnam 3 times higher than in North Korea. As President Trump and Kim Jong-un sit down for their second face-to-face meeting in Hanoi this week, the message from the US is clear: give away your nukes and prosperity awaits.

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