Stunning photos reveal what childhood in North Korea is really like

Childhood is a precious time in human life, so it can be jarring to see kids working in fields or blindly supporting violent dictators.

But if you're one of the 5.3 million children under the age of 14 in North Korea, that's the reality of growing up.

Kids learn to love the country's brutal history, from its founder, Kim Il Sung, all the way to its present ruler, Kim Jong Un. They may learn popular art forms like music and illustration, but it's often in the pursuit of promoting the country's political will.

Here's what it's like to grow up in the most secretive country on Earth.