The history of war making and technology shows that with each introduction of new technology which allows further distance between humans, more indiscriminate killing occurs. From swords and spears to rifles to artillery to long range artillery to rockets to planes dropping bombs to long range missiles to drones, etc,etc. Patrolling, policing and ultimately killing robots would just be another step along that path. Much easier to kill "civilians" when you don't have to look them in the eye.
The better crowd control is to control the media. Let the North Koreans to do the assassin shit.
Chinese government, if they want to fuck anyone, they can simply make news and distribute it everywhere to make anyone anti citizen one and let that individual being bitched by everyone, including his/her own family members.
Currently happening in the USA and other western "democracies" as well. Perhaps just not as obvious to the masses as it is in China.
The thing with these robot dogs, etc - is that once they are employed by police and the military, they will be able to be used for house to house searches to root out any suspected "terrorists" or other "subversives". That's a job no human wants to do - too dangerous and humans are too likely to be distracted by the crying children or screaming spouse.
Who knows what algorithms might be employed: "Detection: high tech electronic equipment. Directive: apprehend suspect by any means necessary"