The problems in the DPRK’s economy are there because of sanctions spearheaded by the United States.

DPRK citizens aren’t allowed to travel to a number of countries not because of their government but because of pressure the US places on other countries to restrict them.

DPRK is diplomatically isolated not because it’s a “hermit kingdom” but because the US does everything it can to isolate them. The DPRK very much wants to be part of the international community but it’s the US who stops them.

Yeah I’m a DPRK “apologist” in that I apologize to them that the country I live in is an evil empire that does everything it can to destroy them decades after they fought a war.