Which I suspect is as much political as anything. I'd be willing to fly Air Koryo over a lot of dodgier Indonesian domestic carriers, and certainly over nearly all (except the 2-3 major carriers) on the African Continent. Sure with embargo, their aircraft maintainance is likely piss-poor, but same-same for all the latter.

SkyTrax ratings can be bought, you do know that, right? (search FT threads of the last year for discussion of some of the upgraded ratings for a couple of the Chinese carriers). Which is why it's guidance is increasingly untrustworthy.