You'll have to forgive the copy-paste reply, I answered about the same question on r*ddit. Even if you aren't read-up on DOR Korea enough to take it at face value that they're socialists, there are key differences.
We know for a fact that the Kim family aren't enriching themselves or exploiting their country's resources like the western backed dictators. If they were living with all the luxuries of the modern day bourgeoise or cheaply selling ores or whatever resources for cheap, that'd be quite difficult to hide. This is also why the only argument westerners have to prove their luxury is how fat they are in a country with such low obesity rates, obviously not a serious argument that merits a response. I don't know about Kim Il-Sung or Kim Jong-Il's positions, but Kim Jong-Un really isn't in a position of supreme authority. In fact, he has less direct control over policy than most western leaders.
On the other hand, Omar Bongo (the father) was literally installed by de Gaulle. He had french backing from day 1, he and his family lived in all the bourgeois luxuries and exploited the natural resources of the country to the benefit of France just like the rest of the neo-colonies in west Africa.
Best way to learn about Korea would be to read up on the war and the writings of Kim Il-Sung. If you need convincing more than clarity, you can read Che and Fidel had to say about the DPRK.
You'll have to forgive the copy-paste reply, I answered about the same question on r*ddit. Even if you aren't read-up on DOR Korea enough to take it at face value that they're socialists, there are key differences.
We know for a fact that the Kim family aren't enriching themselves or exploiting their country's resources like the western backed dictators. If they were living with all the luxuries of the modern day bourgeoise or cheaply selling ores or whatever resources for cheap, that'd be quite difficult to hide. This is also why the only argument westerners have to prove their luxury is how fat they are in a country with such low obesity rates, obviously not a serious argument that merits a response. I don't know about Kim Il-Sung or Kim Jong-Il's positions, but Kim Jong-Un really isn't in a position of supreme authority. In fact, he has less direct control over policy than most western leaders.
On the other hand, Omar Bongo (the father) was literally installed by de Gaulle. He had french backing from day 1, he and his family lived in all the bourgeois luxuries and exploited the natural resources of the country to the benefit of France just like the rest of the neo-colonies in west Africa.
Best way to learn about Korea would be to read up on the war and the writings of Kim Il-Sung. If you need convincing more than clarity, you can read Che and Fidel had to say about the DPRK.
Thanks for the reply, I think it clarifies the key differences.