for example, I watched a documentary about a Western eye doctor who went there pro bono to do cataract surgeries
the thing was, when he gave people their sight back they didn't thank him, they went up to a picture of 'Dear Leader' and wept and prostrated themselves in a cathartic show of gratitude
On a previous visit, her host had proudly presented a bag of emaciated sesame seeds as a gift. On this visit the gift was reciprocated with a bag of lush Japan-grown seeds. Nothing was said, but at that moment her sister's face showed realisation.
1. They are legitimately brainwashed into believing he is God; or
2. They simply know anytime the cameras are on or the Party is present, as would be the case for such an event, they are required to approach Dear Leader's picture and begin the tears...or off to the camps for them and their whole family.
On the other hand, this appears to be a common trait with beloved leaders. In [1] we can read that "rare was the person who did not cry that long weekend".
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactions_to_the_assassination...
The defector here uses Kakao Talk to contact his NK family every day, and he manages to send them money on a regular basis at only a 15% fee through some Chinese Hawala-like network. Most of the military and party officials like to gamble remotely in Chinese/Myanmar casinos so there is widespread unregistered money transfer networks in place across the country.