Can you be more specific?

Would North Korea exist today without the USSR? Would North Korea have been formed without the USSR? Would North Korea be as crazy today if not for the USSR?

I'll give my best shot at answering this broad question.

North Korea was founded because the Soviets refused to allow UN sponsored, peninsula-wide elections in 1948. They did so because they feared (and rightly so) that the US backed southern groups would win. South Korea is/was/always has been the more populous of the Koreas - the land is more hospitable, the weather is relatively nicer, the Joseon capital was at Hanyang (Seoul), the Taebong/Goryeo capital had been at Kaeseong, and the Silla and Paekche kingdoms had both been in the south. Even if everyone in North Korea voted twice, they probably wouldn't have had a shot at winning. That's not to say that there were not communists in the South - there were - but they were not a major factor, especially considering how anti-communist Syngman Rhee was, not to mention his sponsors, the US.

But for as much as the Soviets did in sponsoring and nurturing North Korea, the UN/US forces decimated the North Korean military during the beginning of the Korean War. By October of 1950, all of Korea had been captured, except for the far northeast and an approximately 30 mile strip from the Yalu River south. The USSR provided materials and, later in the war, MiGs and pilots, but it was the Communist Chinese that pushed the UN/US forces south again. Without the PRC, North Korea would have fallen to the South by late 1950/mid 1951 (this really depends on supplies as many UN forces were rushed to Korea without proper winter gear and northeast Korea is home to huge mountains and wicked weather).

AN argument could be made that since Kim Il-Sung had to get Stalin's permission before the Chinese would intervene, then the USSR is responsible. At the same time, an argument could be made that if the US had backed off of support for the ROC and supported Mao that the Chinese might not have held a grudge and intervened in Korea. There are too many "what-ifs."

If we go beyond the Korean War, Soviet aid to Korea via direct aid and through "friendship pricing" on raw materials and fuel oil that was given to communist allies was critical in propping up the regime. In fact, it was the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of these supplies that exacerbated the famines of the 90s. At the same time, the Koreans were incredible adept at playing off the Russians and Chinese - when one sponsor wanted too much in return, North Korea simply went to the other who was more than happy to help if it meant pulling the Koreans more towards their sphere of influence.

Long story short, it really depends on the time period you're talking about. No Soviets in Korea in 1945, no North Korea. No Chinese in the Korean War, no North Korea. No Soviet aid during the 50's-80's, serious troubles for North Korea. But overall, it's probably a fair assessment to say that.