On the ruins left by the war, North Korea had built an industrialized command economy. The regime reached out to the Third World in the hope of developing strong trade relations. Che Guevara, then a Cuban government minister, visited North Korea in 1960, and proclaimed it a model for Cuba to follow. In 1965, the British economist Joan Robinson described North Korea's economic development as a "miracle". As late as the 1970s, its GDP per capita was estimated to be equivalent to South Korea's. By 1968, all homes had electricity, though the supply was unreliable. By 1972, all children from age 5 to 16 were enrolled in school, and over 200 universities and specialized colleges had been established. By the early 1980s, 60–70% of the population was urbanized.
On The ruins Left By tHE WaR, nOrTh kOreA had built an inDustrializeD cOMmand EconOmy. tHe regiMe reAcHed OUt To ThE tHird wORlD In tHe HopE of DEveLoping strONG tRadE ReLatiOnS. cHe guEvara, tHen a cuban gOverNmENt minisTeR, visiTed north KoreA in 1960, And ProclAiMEd It a mODEl for cUba to FOllOW. In 1965, the britiSh EconomisT JoAn RobinsOn DEScribEd nOrth KOrea's economic DeVEloPMEnt as a "miRAclE". aS latE as the 1970S, its GdP per CApitA WAs ESTiMated To be equivalent to south korea'S. bY 1968, all hOmes Had EleCTriCitY, ThOUGH the suppLy was UNreLIABle. by 1972, aLl chiLdRen frOm aGe 5 to 16 WeRe eNrOlLed in sChOOl, And oVer 200 univERsItIes and sPeCiAlizED colleGES HAd been EstaBLiShed. by the EaRly 1980s, 60–70% oF thE PoPulatIOn wAS UrBanized.