China, N. Korea, not as close as Wingnuts would have you believe

[Loonman]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0725/p07s01-woap.html

But so far Kim has refused to conduct such reforms. Chinese who received a patriotic pro-North education in the 70s or 80s have often been dismayed or disillusioned when traveling to the neighboring communist state. They are bothered by the rigidity of the political system, the decaying infrastructure, and especially the impoverishment of common people.

"We go to North Korea and we can see ourselves in the 1970s," says one political scientist. "We see bad conditions. We ask the North to change, to reform, but they don't. Then they criticize us - when they are dependent on our oil and energy!"