Pictures distributed by the Associated Press have offered a rare glimpse into life at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, an elite military educational establishment on the outskirts of the North Korean capital Pyongyang.

Originally opened to house, feed and educate the children of soldiers lost in battle, the school provides basic all-round education but with a strong military emphasis as many of the pupils are expected to go on to senior careers in the military .

Tom Bayly reports.

Video courtesy of Associated Press Television Network