In recent years, smartphones have become as ubiquitous in Pyongyang as they are in most cities around the world. Locals take calls, send texts and swipe through home screens populated with regime-approved apps, all on imported devices running outdated Android software.

They also do something that few associate with one of the poorest and most repressive countries in the world — play video games.

While most North Koreans own little consumer technology, and even Pyongyangites are unlikely to have used the internet, a burgeoning video game culture still exists in the DPRK. Increasing smartphone usage has