Human Rights Watch has accused North Korea of exploiting children as young as seven through forced manual labour, urging the United Nations to take action against the repressive regime.

Research conducted by the group, along with three South Korean activist organisations, found that the North Korean authorities forced children to work by co-opting their schools and universities.

Party wings, such as the Korean Children’s Union, which is compulsory for students aged seven to 13, also compelled children to engage in farming, the construction of buildings, statues, roads and railways, and in the collection of scrap materials to sell.