They probably see the crazy shit the western propaganda machine pumps out about them and are reassured. That is not to say NK is absolved of wrongdoing, however.
Honestly true. They are probably patriotic, far from the larger problems, have cognitive dissonance (“im not living in a dystopian shithole because that would be hopeless “, etc. All it takes is one glaring mischaracterization by western media and their beliefs that they are misunderstood by the West are confirmed. They probably even know of many of the bad things that happen but are able to rationalize it.
Maybe we went a tad too far with Ukraine propaganda. Five Eyes, if you hear me, maybe turn that down a notch for a while, you’re getting as credible as Colin Powell’s words at the UN Security Council, and kids will remember.