$1800 is GDP Per capita(PPP) figure. Its $3400 for India and $2700 for Pakistan, so no, their "income" is not higher than India's or Pakistan's
The nominal per capita of North Korea is roughly 1300 US$, higher than Vietnam, India or Pakistan. And as in any communist/sociliast countries in eastern bloc, the disparity in income is surely much smaller than in capitalist countries, especially countries like India or Phillipines, where majority live in abject poverty with some billionaires on top. In global hungry index, North Korea rank 29th, while India rank almost at the bottom at 67th.
I do not like the dictatoship of Kim family, but from management point of view, they did much better job than the goverment of India, Pakistan or even Vietnam. The country is arounf 70% urbanized, their cities are clean, modern looking and civilized, like any Eastern European cities in the past.
There is starvation sometimes, but it happened in Soviet Union also.
In general, though North Korea is poor country, their country is full of potential. The people are highly educated, although being disconnected to outside world, disciplined and hard-working.
Western press may have some moral background in criticizing North Korea, but I find it laughable if India imitate these. The average North Korean are more educated, more well fed and living in more civilized enviroment than average Indian.