A rare insight has been provided into what North Koreans do in their leisure time and what it is like to live in the totalitarian state.

Defectors and South Korean media reports often suggest the majority of young people in North Korea are struggling for food and forced to drop out of school to enter the workforce.

Those from wealthier backgrounds however are apparently rollerblading in their spare time, going to the gym and drinking at bars with the opposite sex.

However, drinking with friends is often overshadowed by the fear of talking about the regime, going to the cinema is blighted by having to watch one film six times because nothing else is showing and playing video games is confined to Mario Kart played on 80s consoles.

Anna Fifield, a reporter for The Washington Post who has covered national affairs in North Korea for a decade, took part in a question and answer session on Reddit.

She has visited the country a dozen times and has also interviewed Kim Jong-un's aunt and uncle, who currently live in the United States.

Ms Fifield said not much has changed in the country since he took charge.

Inside the daily life in North Korea Show all 19 1 /19 Inside the daily life in North Korea Inside the daily life in North Korea People reading a newspaper at the metro station Inside the daily life in North Korea Thoughts of the leaders on the tram. They have about a dozen of these on every tram, all with different thoughts Inside the daily life in North Korea Young people training for a big upcoming festival Inside the daily life in North Korea People at the Pyongyang's annual marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea Many stars on one of the trolleys in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea An intimidating poster in a primary school in North Korea. Inside the daily life in North Korea Solar panels installed on a street lamp. Inside the daily life in North Korea A poster on the window next to one of the venues we visited in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Kids playing football next to the Arch of Triumph. After a while tourists were allowed to join, so some of us did Inside the daily life in North Korea Class in an educational center in Pyongyang (where people over 17 years old can attend any classes they choose after school, for free) Inside the daily life in North Korea People waving at me during the Pyongyang marathon Inside the daily life in North Korea People having a great time dancing at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea A metro driver in a metro station in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea Fireworks to mark the birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung on our last night in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea My wonderful tour guide at a public park Inside the daily life in North Korea One of the parks in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea A person rowing some boats for the day at a river in Pyongyang Inside the daily life in North Korea The National War Museum Inside the daily life in North Korea Public park in Pyongyang

“Life in North Korea is changing and so are people’s reasons for escaping,” Ms Fifield said. “When Kim Jong-un became leader, many North Koreans thought that life would improve. But after six years in power, the ‘Great Successor’ has proved to be just as brutal as past leaders.”

Mr Kim is the third supreme leader in the Kim dynasty, founded by his grandfather Kim il-Sung.