Not quite.

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365155890/

"S32 Ep6: Secret State of North Korea"

There are some really funny parts where citizens who are doing illegal things berate the officers who are trying to enforce the laws. It seems rather unlike a state with a firm grip on its populace.

High rates of growth are impressive but also not hard given how much of a backwater NK was. We'll see if it continues. China succeeded because they liberalized and have a massive populace. NK simply doesn't have that and is isolated from the world community. How long can that growth continue and if it stops, will the locals accept it?

Oh, and PBS has lots of good online video content. They're worth supporting.