May 31, 2023
Photos

Pioneers, propaganda and play: North Korean children’s education — in photos

Photos from inside the DPRK show how the state molds young students into devoted revolutionaries and loyal citizens

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.