There is a famous saying in North Korea that reflects the diligent attention the state pays to children’s upbringing and education: “Children are the kings of the country.”

The DPRK grooms students from kindergarten to be devoted revolutionaries for life. Children spend hours and hours studying the Juche ideology of self-reliance and learning the history of their country’s revolution against Japanese and Western forces.

The goal is for for students to show their love, loyalty and admiration for their leaders and to keep the Party in their hearts forever. All other subjects are secondary.

The photos in this