I can kinda see how Mexico is a “hybrid regime.” Its current president won with approximately 60% of the vote. Its federal government is enjoying unprecedented approval from its citizens. OTOH dozens of mayoral candidates have been assassinated by cartels over the past few years.

They could just pretend to be KIA and walk away right? It’s not like the NK government would have the resources to figure out if they defected or simply died and got a field burial.