Dear

"Illustration" courtesy of:  https://www.craiyon.com "north korea"

How are the citizens of North Korea doing?  Has anyone checked or does anyone care?

With China providing the basics for its "government", does North Korea need anything other than scientists, leaders, or a military?

It may or may not believe so.

The "dear leaders" have never been backward.  They are progressive or forward.  They may even have reasoned away the need for "commoners" at all.

Indifferent for them or "to our shame".

Backward or "we are all to blame".