There's no difference as far as I can tell.
First, Kim gave them much more than we are supposed to. Second, he gave them in cash, not in terms of grains or heating oil.
It created a bad habit much worse. N. Korea thinks that acting suicidal can guarantee more money delivered in cash in secret without any questions being asked.
So N. Korea is free to spend it on making more bargaining chips or only rewarding a small number of loyal elites rather than starving public, away from prying eyes.