Thats one part of it, yes.
The fact that they are SO sheltered from the rest of the world is "weird", anyway you try and spin it. The fact that the "father" of N. Korea is DEAD and is STILL the president of N. Korea...is weird. They worship him like a GOD.
They weren't bullshitting when they mentioned that N.Korea is living in a time capsule, both technologically and society wise.