Extremely infuriated by people who think all Asians are Chinese

NK is definitely much more tightly controlled than China, but let me assure you that you cannot just wander around China and "meet the people". My daughter went to visit a friend there for several weeks this year and it was so restrictive that she had to be exactly where her itinerary said she was supposed to be at all times. She was not allowed to talk to the common folk (not that any of them could speak English) and could only visit or eat at "approved for foreigners" establishments. To me that is an extremely closed and hostile society which does not lead to open communication and understanding between it's people and visitors.
I have been trying for many years to get a cruising permit to visit China, but the only way I can visit is if I go from one approved marina to another, not anchoring at any small bays, visiting the villages or towns, which just is not how I normally experience a country.