Why isn't it? Kim has no quarterly earnings report he's in thrall to, no need to make line go up in perpetuity, no banksters, no factory owners, no techbros, no lobbyists.

Under such conditions, it's entirely possible for leadership to work on behalf of the public interest. Compare to the US, where popular support is completely ignored for industry lobbying and campaign cash. I'd venture to say that North Korea is already more democratic than the US, even IF it's a brutal regime (it isn't)

The only brutal and undemocratic regime on the peninsula is the ROK, which killed tens of thousands of its citizens in Jeju and Gwangju. Jeju was effectively covered up until the mass graves were found. And even they are more progressive and democratic than the US