yes thats true ^^^ there's lots of documentaries etc about it; there's even been a few threads on here about that.

Certainly if there were no choking economic restrictions on NK less people would probably want to leave

What a waste of time and resources this all is. The SEALS, SAS, JTF-2 etc should just collaborate on a mission to simultaneously pick off Jong-Il and all the other top leaders in the regime. Make it look like an inside job as a coup, instantly end the standoff overnight. Dealing with this moron and his country that's been on it's deathbed since it's inception is a complete waste of energy politically, socially, and militarily. It's been propped up by others since day 1, it will collapse, get it over with.

who cares, let them kill eachother.

im ready to buy some land in downtown pyongyang. Hurry up and get rid of kim jong il