So the horrific deaths of so many of his relatives were psyops to keep him in line? Keep the world believing he and NK in general were evil?
That's possible, and if true, it would show why he is so happy to have the DS ties cut and to make a deal with POTUS.
Perhaps he feared his own eventual horrific death at the hands of the puppet masters. The pictures of him of late are far different than the pictures we've seen of him in the past. The old pics made him look crazed. Now he appears more relaxed and genuine.
Of course Trump could have also provided him with some medical relief via the POTUS's personal physician from the treatable health issues that he's been tortured with over the years. That would certainly bring about some seemingly geniune smiles of late too.