The DPRK did not collapse even during the Arduous March, the fact that they are consistently doing better means they aren't in a death spiral. There are more overweight people than just Kim Jong-Un, and he isn't an absolute leader, just head of state.

As for learning about the DPRK, they have state media and tourists from other countries like Russia and China help fill in the gaps. It is extremely hard to verify information, but it isn't non-existent either, which means you can't just make shit up like claiming it's in a death spiral or that Kim Jong-Un is some absolute ruler and not just a head of state.

As a side-note, private press isn't necessarily more correct or honest than public press. It just happens to reflect the views of the wealthy capitalists that own the press.