Like I said, 2 countries don't make a great sample size. West Germany got a massive boost from the Marshall plan. East Germany did not. NATO represented a much bigger trading block and economy when compared with the Soviet Union.

North Korea and South Korea had comparable economies until the 70s. Very few countries face the same kind of crippling sanctions that NK has. And you can always compare Cuba with your choice of a Latin American country to make a counterpoint.