Should the US have a free trade agreeement with North Korea?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Just a question to the people saying they'd support one with every country in the world...

[Gustaf]

Why not? It isn't as if it would matter. North Korea could obviously never agree to having even unfree trade with any other country.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Yes.  All means all.

[tpfkaw]

Yes, of course.  When they are exposed to the prosperity of the outside world, they'll start questioning their own system.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Yes, of course.  When they are exposed to the prosperity of the outside world, they'll start questioning their own system.

     Pretty much. It's hard to imagine the current regime surviving for long if it were to permit its citizens to trade freely with the peoples of other countries.

[2952-0-0]

Yes, of course.  When they are exposed to the prosperity of the outside world, they'll start questioning their own system.

     Pretty much. It's hard to imagine the current regime surviving for long if it were to permit its citizens to trade freely with the peoples of other countries.

There already is plenty of private trade. The border guards seem to tolerate the continuous stream of goods and people across the Chinese border as long as they get their share. I'm not sure what officially permitting trade will do in addition.

[Verily]

If North Korea had and respected a free trade agreement with anyone, it would be a totally different country. So, yes, I suppose, but the question is pretty meaningless (especially as the US has such an agreement with South Korea, and any such government in North Korea would almost certainly mean rapid reunification).

[The Economist]

Yes, of course.  When they are exposed to the prosperity of the outside world, they'll start questioning their own system.

This. To a degree, it's already happening in China. When totalitarian regimes are exposed to what democratic nations do - via trade, in this case, they begin to crumble from within.

[Beet]

I think having a free trade agreement with China would be more controversial.

[ag]

If not, then not for any reasons having to do w/ trade itself: in any case, NK is to miniscule to matter for US trade.

[dead0man]

Yes, of course.  When they are exposed to the prosperity of the outside world, they'll start questioning their own system.

     Pretty much. It's hard to imagine the current regime surviving for long if it were to permit its citizens to trade freely with the peoples of other countries.

There already is plenty of private trade. The border guards seem to tolerate the continuous stream of goods and people across the Chinese border as long as they get their share. I'm not sure what officially permitting trade will do in addition.

Yeah, but we're talking about free trade.  Bribing border guards and hiding from the state aren't "free" just like a black market isn't a "free" market as a certain poster tried to claim a year or so ago.