North Korea - smear on atheism?

[Esquilax]

I meant a dirtying of the term by a state that is obviously not atheist but uses the word 'atheist' to refer to the atrocities done by them - had North Korea really been atheist they couldn't use the term 'heavenly leader' (that's what you implied?)

Well, I'd suggest that the term "Heavenly Leader," is just one symptom of the deification of the leaders of North Korea; even if they aren't using the term in a strictly religious manner it still denotes divinity. All that's really happened is that they've built up a man to the status of a god; there's worship there, even if it doesn't happen in a church. Add in all the magical claims the propaganda mill spews out there, and it begins to look awfully religious, in the same way that cults venerate their earthly leaders.

And you'd hardly claim cults are atheistic.