The North Korean system strives to mold people throughout their life, and those efforts begin from the cradle.

Beyond just bringing up children as smart, hard-working members of society, DPRK education seeks to inculcate specific ideological values — hate the Americans and Japanese, worship the leaders and socialist collectivism.

Imbuing youngsters with these values is a crucial part of children’s culture. No children’s cartoon, TV show or fiction book serves purely to entertain. All must carry the necessary dose of important state propaganda, much in the way that religious education strives to impart the fundamentals of faith.

North Korean children’s