Another shot taken in the same classroom at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace.

I have read accounts of visits to the Children’s Palace where the writers talk about the ‘fake smiles’ that the children have practiced for foreign visitors, but they didn’t look fake to me. The children seemed to be genuinely happy, and very healthy and well dressed, but of course these are privileged children. Only people who are trusted members of the Workers Party are able to live in Pyongyang, and out of those there is no doubt some system for selecting those who will be fortunate enough to be allowed to send their children to the Children’s Palace – but as privileged as these kids may be, there is no denying that the Children’s Palace is nurturing some amazing talent.