The reason stories of an enlightened monarch emerged during the early Kim Jong-un regime was Jang Song-thaek...

Jang Song-thaek's disposition itself was quite open,
and he was also very close to China.
During the early stages of the Kim Jong-un regime, Jang Song-thaek acted somewhat like a regent.
One should view the open movements seen in North Korea during that time as entirely the work of Jang Song-thaek..
Of course, after Jang Song-thaek's purge...
If Jang Song-thaek had won the power struggle,
we might have been able to see a North Korea that underwent reform and opening up..