I don't quite concur about North Korea and Burma being examples of totalitarian regimes. These two countries are ruled under absolute dictatorship, but from bits and pieces of information, it seems the people there know they're living in hell.
I'd quote a brief period of China--specifically during the Cultural Revolution (between 1966 and 1976), while ruled by Chairman Mao. Originally started out as political campaign in a power struggle, the Cultural Revolution evolved into a widespread cataclysm. Traditional values, cultures, education, and economy were largely destroyed or suppressed. New (laughable, in hind sight) systems were established. Most importantly, so many people involved in the movement at that time believed they were doing the right things and heading toward an ideological direction. It was disastrous. Thanks god it didn't last too long.
There is another example, a good one, that is of interest, but it is far from totalitarian. It might marginally be called dictatorship. That is Singapore while ruled by Lee Kuan Yew during and after independence. I don't think Lee possessed the kind of power to qualify as dictator, but his government was still very autocratic. The difference is this guy acted for the best interests of his people, and when the time was up, he willingly stepped aside, though still very influential.